Dennis Stephens

In my 50th year diagnosed with T1, diagnosed at the age of 13, I’ve been fortunate at working hard to control this disease. From day one in the hospital, I took it upon myself to figure this out. My mother had just passed away six months prior to my diagnosis. I needed to learn everything I could to live a full and productive life while managing this disease, so I kept up with technology from from peeing on tape to check to see if my glucose was over 180, to utilizing a insulin pump and CGM to keep a A1C in the 6.0 range. My wife and I ran a successful corporation, and sold it to a large company in 2014 to retire early, and live life to its fullest. I’ve traveled the world, flown airplanes as one of the first T1 diabetics in the USA to earn a Class III medical certificate giving me the option to get certified private pilot license, sky diving, skiing, scuba diving, and so many other rewarding endeavors. Soon to be 63, I am blessed to be complication free, and loving life with my wife of 43 years, and two grown sons.