Barbara Ruiz Quintana

My sister was diagnosed with type 1 when she was five and I was eight, so type 1 has been a part of my life for a long time. I also couldn’t have any candies because my parents didn’t wanted her to have any candy or sugar around. Back then there was not as many resources as there are now. I got diagnosed at 25. It was very hard since my sister had already lost sight and her kidneys were failing. She passed away a year later. Her experience and the professional team around me have been an inspiration to control my diabetes vs let diabetes control my life. I have been very lucky in my diabetes journey. I have huge access to resources and have been able to have a great, almost regular life. Diabetes has only made me stronger, and take much better care of myself than before. I’m happy to have almost reached 25 years living with diabetes and so far being ok.