Inspirational Stories

Well, hello everyone! I want to start off by introducing myself and telling you about how I found out my pancreas was a little lazier than the average person's. More specifically, how I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D). It’s probably a good idea to start with my name.

For all my life, all I have known is one thing: type 1 diabetes. As a child, as a teen, and even now as a young adult, diabetes has accompanied me through every season of my life from the day I was diagnosed at 15 months old.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in March 2018, 10-year-old Paytan has faced a number of obstacles. Her Omnipod DASH® Insulin Management System has helped her manage her diabetes and overcome these barriers that once seemed insurmountable. 

The summer of 2022 emerged like a tour de force to lead us out of the cold, dark, and pandemic-filled winter of 2021. And as restrictions lifted around the globe, things shifted.

Type 1 diabetes is a double-edged sword. For most of my life, the word diabetes would make me shudder.  It would make me recall moments of anguish, fear, stress, and a tremendous weight that comes along with a chronic illness. The word diabetes also made me feel completely alone.

This year, I challenge you to take a really honest look at how you think about yourself and your diabetes.

Parenthood presents a unique set of challenges when you live with a chronic condition like type 1 diabetes. But those situations offer equally unique opportunities to teach your children about patience, compassion, and understanding.

For me, being a teenager with type 1 diabetes (T1D) was lonely. It’s supposed to be the age where kids just pick up and go on crazy unplanned adventures without a second thought. Having T1D, I didn’t feel comfortable with that.

I can remember what it felt like those first few weeks.
My little girl was only three years old, with numerous other complications & disabilities including ones that made communicating difficult.

Living with type 1 diabetes makes for a complicated relationship within yourself. Yet it can find you emerging daily with a strength and resilience you did not know you had.

Hi my favorite diabuddies,

I am back with an exciting blog to share with you guys! 

I really wanted to write about this subject last year but since travel was on hold because of the pandemic, I decided to wait before sharing it so more people could use my tips.

David van der Vloet is from Belgium and an avid cyclist and triathlete. He also lives with type 1 diabetes.