Allan Farina

I’ve been living with Type 1 Diabetes for almost ten years now. Time has flown by so fast. I was diagnosed right at the beginning of one of the most important chapters of my life—just as I was starting college. The timing couldn’t have been more overwhelming. Suddenly, I had to manage not only a full academic load but also the demands of a chronic illness that doesn’t take breaks.

I graduated in 2023 with a degree in Electromechanical Engineering, and looking back, I’m incredibly proud of what I accomplished—but it wasn’t easy. Juggling blood sugar highs and lows in the middle of lectures, labs, and finals was a constant challenge. Diabetes became a full-time job that I had to manage alongside everything else.

Over the years, my diabetes management has evolved. I started with MDI (multiple daily injections), then transitioned through various insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). I even ventured into the world of DIY Loop systems—building my own closed-loop insulin delivery setup using open-source tools. It felt empowering to take control of my care in that way, but it also came with its own learning curve and risks. Still, being proactive in my care helped me feel less like diabetes was something happening to me, and more like something I could manage on my terms.

My journey with T1D has shaped who I am: an engineer, a problem-solver, and someone who keeps going no matter what.

If you’re reading this and you’re at the beginning of your own diabetes journey—whether you’re newly diagnosed or supporting someone who is—know that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed. You don’t have to have it all figured out right away. Give yourself time. Ask for help. And know that even on the hardest days, you are not alone.