I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 13, and my two siblings and mother have type 1 diabetes as well. Growing up, there were always things that I was told I couldn’t or shouldn’t be able to do. I wanted to join the military but knew that was out of the question. I still wanted to serve my community like both my mother and father had done. My mother was in the US Army when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, so I had grown up around the disease. My mother had told me I could still do many of the same things other kids could, just differently. My father had been a volunteer firefighter when I was younger, so I decided that was how I was going to do my part in serving my community. I signed up and joined a volunteer fire department and went through and passed all of the state-required classes and training to become a state-certified interior firefighter. I am proud to say that even if life takes a different direction than you plan, there is always something a diabetic can do. Even if it is fighting fires or something else.
These are the personal experiences of individuals living with diabetes and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with qualified health care professionals to meet your individual health and medical needs.