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Crossing Time Zones with Diabetes: Stories of Resilience Without Pause

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Travel is often celebrated as an escape — an opportunity to break free from routine, explore new cultures, and broaden one’s perspective. But for those of us living with type 1 diabetes (T1D), travel is less of an escape and more of an intricate balancing act — one that demands heightened awareness, recalibration, and constant decision-making, especially when shifting between time zones. When I first travelled to the USA, I was still on Multiple Daily Injections (MDI), armed only with my Freestyle Libre 2 CGM — a gift from friends abroad. I was grateful for it, deeply so. But even with a CGM, navigating blood glucose management across continents was a physical and mental marathon. My body — used to one rhythm — was suddenly thrown into another. Meals, insulin doses, activity levels, even sleep — nothing matched anymore. My target range quickly became more of a dream than a standard, and glycemic control slipped through my fingers. There was no pump to automate anything, just me, my p...
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My Hybrid Closed-Loop Journey: Lessons, Laughter, and Lifelong Gratitude

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Omnipod Eros & Dexcom G6 Four months ago, I embarked on a hybrid closed-loop journey, armed with an Omnipod Eros, Omnipod Dash, Medtronic pump, Freestyle Libre 2, Dexcom one, and Dexcom G6, and the unwavering support of my closest friends in the diabetes DIY community. If you had told me a year ago that I’d be managing my diabetes with a fully integrated loop system, I probably would have laughed—partly in disbelief and partly because, let’s be honest, technology and I have had a complicated relationship. Yet, here I am, looping away like a tech-savvy T1D warrior, all thanks to the relentless kindness, generosity, and “we’ll-make-it-happen” attitude of some truly incredible people. From “Would You Wear a Pump?” to “Here’s Everything You Need” Medtronic 754 It all started with a simple yet life-changing message: "Hey Tino, if you’ll come to ISPAD, tell me what I can ‘collect’ for you that you are using for your personal T1D management. I’ll be happy to share what I can.” Imagin...
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Bridging the Gaps in Type 1 Diabetes Care: Reflections from the Copenhagen Meeting

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A couple of weeks ago, the World Diabetes Foundation, East Africa Diabetes Study Group, University of Geneva, and Danish Diabetes and Endocrine Academy coordinated an international meeting on type 1 diabetes (T1D) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The meeting brought together people living with T1D, early-career and seasoned researchers, and policymakers at the forefront of diabetes care across different regions. People with diabetes were included in most sessions of the meeting. While we’d like to think that clinicians and researchers don’t need constant reminders that there are people behind the statistics and data, it never hurts to put a human face and lived experience front and centre. These perspectives reinforce how diabetes impacts real lives beyond the numbers. People with Diabetes at the Copenhagen Meeting Throughout the meeting, people with diabetes spoke on panels and gave presentations about initiatives driving real change in diabetes care. The message was cle...
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From Awareness to Action: Empowering Communities in Diabetes Management

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Cover Image The fight against diabetes is not just a medical challenge—it is a battle for equity, dignity, and the right to a life unhindered by preventable complications. This was the overarching theme of our recent workshop, where a diverse group of experts, advocates, and individuals living with diabetes (PWD) convened to exchange insights, empower communities, and inspire action. Through compelling stories of resilience, transformative innovations, and practical solutions tailored to our region's unique challenges, the event became more than a learning platform—it was a call to revolutionize diabetes care. Each voice echoed the urgency to redefine what it means to live with diabetes, not as a condition to endure, but as an opportunity to thrive through education, advocacy, and collaboration. This report captures the essence of that powerful gathering, celebrating the courage of those who spoke, the innovation of those who shared solutions, and the unwavering commitment to a hea...
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ISPAD 2024: 50 Essential Lessons for Clinicians, Researchers, and Families

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The ISPAD 2024 conference, held in Lisbon, was groundbreaking. As the global diabetes community gathered to celebrate 50 years of advancing care for children, adolescents, and young adults with diabetes, the event showcased the latest innovations, research breakthroughs, and clinical strategies aimed at transforming the future of diabetes care. From cutting-edge technologies to new therapeutic approaches, ISPAD 2024 exemplified the power of collaboration across disciplines, uniting researchers, healthcare professionals, advocates, and people living with diabetes (PWD) in the shared mission of improving lives. In this post, I’ve compiled the 50 key highlights that will continue to influence the diabetes landscape for years to come, empowering everyone from patients to policymakers. Each highlight reflects the spirit of innovation and serves as a reminder of the urgent need for access, equity, and collaboration in diabetes care worldwide. General Highlights for the Public 1. Inclusion ...
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