Steve McGuinn Jr

From his wife, Suzanne:

At age three, Steve was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. At age eight, he attended diabetes camp for the first time. It was there he experienced the first blood glucose monitoring system and gave himself his first insulin shot. At such a young age, he grasped that he would be managing his blood sugar for the rest of his life or until there was a cure. Steve has always been determined to live life to the fullest regardless of this disease. He played sports throughout his childhood and young adult life. He also travelled extensively with youth groups and his family. He did everything every other kid did and he never let diabetes stop him or used the disease as an excuse. As a young adult into adulthood, he graduated college and became very successful at his job. He’s been a mentor to many young children and a voice of encouragement for their parents. He has volunteered his time with several organizations in the name of T1D. Three months after getting married, Steve suffered a low blood sugar emergency. It was then he considered an insulin pump and an even stricter regimen to care for his diabetes. After a lot of research, he started on an insulin pump and it truly changed his life and the life of his family. It was also then he developed a passion for the technological advances of managing blood sugar and insulin delivery. That was 25 years ago. Now 50 years later, Steve’s A1c remains at 6 or below. He wears an Omnipod and Dexcom and continues to research what works best for his health. He has accomplished so much and still does not let diabetes stop him. He is an amazing father to his daughter, successful at Insulet (Omnipod), recipient of several awards through his dedication at the diabetes companies in which he has worked and still helps anyone struggling with their journey. He is a volunteer on National Ski Patrol (and gives instruction to fellow patrollers on diabetic emergencies), earned a Master’s Degree at age 50, plays golf, remodeled a house and continues to travel extensively; recently visiting Costa Rica and Iceland. Travelling with diabetes, diabetic technology and insulin takes research especially to foreign countries but he does not let it stop him. Steve never complains about the day to day, hour to hour and sometimes minute to minute management of this frustrating disease. As his wife and T1D partner, I have asked him on multiple occasions how he does it with such positivity. He always replies that he knows no other way of life and he just does what he has to do to enjoy life. Our daughter and I wish to honor him for doing what he has to do. He is such a role model to so many, not just those with Type1, but also others. He represents determination, perseverance and most of all, courage. We have the upmost respect for him and his journey, and we feel like the luckiest wife and daughter in the world because we know he not only does what he has to do for him, but for us as well.