Let’s give a round of applause for David Winkler, today’s guest on the Diabetics Doing Things podcast. David is well known for multiple achievements, but I’d like to highlight that he is the co-founder and board chair of Diabetes Research Connection (DRC). The DRC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2012 with the goal of connecting donors with scientists who want to make a positive change with credible, peer-reviewed research in the world of type 1 diabetes.
David, diagnosed at age six, has been living with T1D for 58 years. As such, he is an expert when it comes to life with diabetes. From the days of injecting insulin derived from pigs to now knowing what his glucose levels are at all times, he has exceeded the expectations of the early doctors. David’s story is fascinating and provides hope to diabetics, new and old. At diagnosis, it was suggested he wouldn’t live past 30, so we can see how far the knowledge and technology has come. Unfortunately, it’s not perfect and there’s a lot of work to be done, which is why David and four others created the DRC.
David is an advocate of each individual understanding their diabetes and working to gain as much knowledge and experience as possible. He preaches that every day is a test, so consciously paying attention to one’s blood sugar and eliminating variables is necessary in order to prevent complications in the future. If you’re a proponent of fact-based research, knowledge, and helping others, take a listen to today’s episode.