Real Diabetes Stories From Our Community

Living with diabetes can feel overwhelming and isolating, especially after diagnosis or during difficult periods related to diabetes complications. Hearing real stories from others who understand the daily challenges helps reduce that sense of loneliness. These personal journeys offer emotional support, practical insight, and reassurance that you’re not alone. By sharing experiences, setbacks, and wins, our community helps others feel seen, understood, and empowered.

Meet members of our community and read their stories below.

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Jessica Ortiz 0006 Me2 Compressor
Type 1 Miami, Florida

Jessica Ortiz, 27 years

I was diagnosed as a kid when I was nine years old, so I grew up with diabetes. I don’t really remember a life with it too much. I had an amazing medical team when I was diagnosed, so I’m really grateful for that.

Living with diabetes for 18 years

Victoria Burns 0001 Fb Img 1537587864367 Compressor
Type 1 Calgary, Alberta Canada

Victoria Burns, 38 years

I’m a wife, puppy mom, and Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Calgary. I do arts-based research using documentary film. I didn’t grow up with diabetes. I got married the same year I was diagnosed with type one diabetes. It was a shock for my entire family. “Strive for progress, not perfection!

Living with diabetes for 9 years

Alexa Wierbicki 0006 Img 2959 Compressor
Type 1 Ontario, Canada

Alexa Wierbicki, 22 years

Travel, nutrition, and type of diabetes are my biggest passions! I travel every chance I get! I am a dietetic student en route to becoming a dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). I love educating people about diabetes and about making diabetes fun!

Living with diabetes for 6 years

Alex Voigt 0013 Img 0835 Compressor
Type 1 Stuttgart, Germany

Alex Voigt, 45 years

I have been working as a social worker for 25 years. In my job, I try to help kids and families get along with their problems and difficult situations. In my free time, I have been making German rap music since 1991.

Living with diabetes for 32 years

Kate Wallace 7 Compressor
Type 1 England

Kate Wallace, 21 years

I’m from London; I love sports, hanging out with friends, and traveling. I was diagnosed at age 11 with type 1 diabetes. I didn’t hide my diabetes at first, but then began to as I went into my teenage years. The hardest part was emotionally for my family; a lot of changes happened.

Living with diabetes for 9 years

Sarah Miller 2 Compressor
Type 1 Sydney

Sarah Miller, 28 years

This is my tenth year of diabetes, but for many of those, I was in complete denial about my diagnosis. No one in my family has diabetes, and nor did my friends at the time, which left me feeling quite alone and like I didn’t have anyone who understood what I was going through.

Living with diabetes for 10 years

Jennifer Sepulveda 2 A Compressor
Type 1 New York

Jennifer S., 36 years

After many years of poor self-care and enduring many challenging diabetes complications, I am trying my hardest to take optimal care of my health. One of my biggest motivators is the blessing of my amazing 6-year-old son. I was diagnosed at 12 years old with type 1 diabetes, just three days shy of Halloween.

Living with diabetes for 24.5 years

Erica Mackay 2 Compressor A
Type 1 Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Erica MacKay, 32 years

I am a stay at home mom to two beautiful, happy boys and wifey to my best friend. I enjoy being outside every day. I love my morning coffee and enjoy a good workout that can release a little stress.

Living with diabetes for 30 years

George Hakes 3 Compressor
Type 1 Cambridgeshire

George Hakes, 29 years

I’ve met a lot of people with type 1 diabetes, diagnosed at various ages, and as a result, I’m grateful that I was diagnosed at a young age. I was around 10 years old, and it was during the Summer break from school.

Living with diabetes for 20 years

Sweet Sisters 1 Compressor
type 1 South Carolina

Anna Koon & Margaret McElwee, 26 & 23 years

Hey everyone! Our names are Anna Koon and Margaret McElwee. We are 26 and 23 years old and currently live in South Carolina. We have had type 1 diabetes for 11 and 4 years, respectively. We are sisters and type 1 Diabetics.

Living with diabetes for 11 years & 4 years

Jacob Weber 7 Compressor
type 1 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Jacob Weber, 29 years

I’m a copywriter, a content planner, and a creative project coordinator. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 20 years old. Emotionally, it was tough. I couldn’t come to terms with a sudden “lifelong, chronic condition without a cure.

Living with diabetes for 9 years

Lewis Butler 1 Compressor
Type 1 England

Lewis Butler, 26 years

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in February 2020. I currently work in IT, specializing in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics. I love meeting new people, playing sports, and being in the outdoors.

Living with diabetes for 2 months

Diabetes Stories by Type

Everyone’s experience with diabetes is different. Explore stories based on the type of diabetes people are living with to find journeys that resonate most with you.

Type 1 Diabetes Stories

Personal stories from people navigating life with type 1 diabetes, from diagnosis to daily management, medication decisions, technology, and mental health.

Type 2 Diabetes Stories

Real experiences from individuals living with type 2 diabetes, sharing lifestyle changes, nutrition choices, physical activity routines, challenges, and lessons learned along the way.

Prediabetes Journeys

Stories from people who caught prediabetes early and are working to prevent progression through lifestyle, nutrition, and mindset shifts.

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