For over a decade, I have had the privilege of working closely with people living with type 1 diabetes, from committed colleagues to inspiring children and teens. What began as an educational role evolved into a way of life that mirrored theirs! I avoid sugar, plan meals like someone managing type 1 diabetes, and am often mistaken for having it myself. Questions about my HbA1c or insulin use always make me smile. They show how deeply this journey has shaped me. The type 1 diabetes community has taught me resilience, empathy, discipline, and the quiet strength of showing up every day, no matter what.
Here are 10 life lessons that have stayed with me and continue to guide me every day:
1. The power of discipline: Daily habits bring rhythm, structure, and peace not only for managing health, but for managing life.
2. Being prepared reduces stress: From carrying a snack to planning, I have often seen my colleagues with type 1 diabetes carry food with them wherever they go, as a safeguard against hypoglycaemia. Watching them manage their day with such awareness taught me that preparation is a proactive approach that brings clarity, control, and a sense of calm throughout the day.
3. Self-awareness is survival: Type 1 diabetes requires constant reflection. I have seen my colleagues with the condition pause during a hectic workday to check their glucose, tuning in to how they feel: tired, irritable, low on energy. It taught me to become more aware of my energy, emotions and needs.
4. Adaptability is a strength: Blood glucose does not always follow the rules, life doesn’t either. I have seen my colleagues with type 1 diabetes handle unexpected highs or lows in the middle of busy clinic days, with calm, quick decisions and no complaints. Whether it meant pausing briefly to check their levels or adjusting their insulin between work, they adapted seamlessly. Watching them respond with such grace taught me that true strength lies in staying composed and flexible, even when things do not go as planned.
5. Resilience is built, not born: I have witnessed what it means to keep going, even when it’s hard. That quiet, steady courage has inspired my own. I remember a type 1 diabetes awareness session in the city, where in the middle, a colleague’s insulin pump alarm sounded because her infusion set had dislodged. Without panic, she calmly excused herself, fixed it using supplies from her bag, and returned to the session. What struck me was not just her preparedness, but how she turned the incident into a teachable moment, showing everyone that managing her condition is not about hiding it, it’s about owning it with confidence. That moment stayed with me. It showed me that resilience does not always look dramatic. It often looks like calm perseverance in the face of invisible challenges.
The type 1 diabetes community has taught me resilience, empathy, discipline, and the quiet strength of showing up every day, no matter what
6. Celebrate the small wins: Progress shows up in the little victories, and they matter. I have seen my colleague take a correction dose during a high glucose episode and then smile with quiet satisfaction when it works just right. That sense of control, even over a small adjustment, brings real joy. It reminded me that in the world of type 1 diabetes, success is not always about ideal readings. It’s about understanding your body, making informed choices, and seeing those choices pay off.
7. Wisdom of eating with intention: Living around type 1 diabetes has reshaped how I view food not just as calories, but as a mindful balance of intention and awareness. I have seen my colleagues with type 1 diabetes enjoying birthday cake by planning, counting carbs, monitoring and adjusting insulin.
8. Calm is contagious: Seeing people stay composed during highs or lows reminded me that calmness is not passive. It’s powerful.
9. Vulnerability is strength: Opening up about struggles builds trust. It creates space for others to do the same. I remember a colleague with T1D who once shared how overwhelmed she is while managing her glucose levels and balancing deadlines at work and home. Instead of hiding it, she spoke honestly. Others with type 1 diabetes gave her the helping hand to finish her tasks at work. That experience taught me that vulnerability is not about oversharing, it’s about being real.
10. Self-control is mental strength: My colleagues with type 1 diabetes would skip cake or pizza when glucose was high, to protect their future well-being. Every choice we make today shapes the energy we will have tomorrow.
This journey has been more than work. It has shaped how I live, think, and navigate the world. While I do not live with type 1 diabetes myself, those who do have profoundly impacted me. It has been a shared path of empathy, growth, and purpose. For that, I hold deep respect and immense gratitude. Because sometimes, you do not have to ‘have it’ to truly understand it.
