It has been almost 30 years since I was first diagnosed with type one diabetes. I was seventeen years old at the time and quite a rebel. I couldn’t accept that I would have to inject myself with a foreign substance in order to stay alive. And whatsmore, being told what I can and cannot eat and when to eat.
I left home at an early age and had to deal with or manage my diabetes all by myself. I never told anyone about my illness unless it was absolutely necessary, (hypoglycemia). I never wanted to be different from anybody else, but I was. Diabetes never stopped me from doing anything I wanted and I lived my life according to my whims and wishes.

Then one day I decided to travel and people told me, “you can’t travel to South America! You are diabetic!” However, I went anyways, and I lived in South America for 10 years.
Even though I have been diabetic for 29 years and even though my kidneys are failing and even though I have periphreal neuropathy and gastro perisis, thanks to diabetes, I do not regret anything about my life and I am happy with the decisions I made.
I am looking forward to the future because I am now on a waiting list for a PK Transplant, (Pancreas-Kidney), I will have a second chance at life, free of insulin and diet and daily blood tests.
I believe the real future of diabetes treatment lies in the future development of Nano medicine.

Thank you for giving me the chance to tell my story.