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Home > Knowledge & support > Resource hub > Justin on embracing his differences as a gay man with type 1 diabetes
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in May of 2021. I was misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes earlier that year. Luckily, after documenting my experience on Tik Tok, the diabetes community came to the rescue with comments and helped me get the correct diagnosis.
I think getting diagnosed with diabetes later in life has its advantages; I’m old enough to research and seek out the best ways to treat my diabetes. That said, I still experience constant obstacles which help me grow more and more as I live with this disease.
I’ve learned to use my diabetes as a strength instead of allowing it to be a weakness and this thinking comes from my struggles growing up gay. Of course, being gay is not a weakness, but it was ‘difference’. Once I learned to embrace my differences, and see them as uniqueness and strength, that’s when I fully allowed myself to live my authentic life.
To learn more about tech in a fun and entertaining way, check out Justin’s videos on Tik Tok @diabetech and over on his YouTube channel Justin_tech.
MJ works full-time as a chef in London and has recently started volunteering as an assistant to our Events and Supporter-Led Fundraising team.
Bob has lived with type 1 diabetes for 10 years and is one of our dedicated Community Connector volunteers.
Megan Neville was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at three years old. Now a graduate of the Royal School of Needlework, Megan shares her experiences of growing up with type 1 and how it became the topic of her sculptural handbag embroidery project: Ordinary Oddness.
Eden Valk was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes while she was still in school, navigating classes, friendships and everyday life. Here, she shares five of the most important lessons she’s learned along the way.
