Meet Pedro: Finding New Purpose with Type 1 Diabetes

My journey with diabetes officially started in June 2016, but the real story began a few months earlier, in March 2016. I was a 17-year-old high school student at the time living in Rachiine, a beautiful small village in north Lebanon. Despite its beauty, Rachiine, like much of its district, was marked by insecurities and a judgmental society that often made it difficult to speak up about personal struggles.

In March, I began noticing changes in my body. I was constantly tired, thirstier than ever before, losing weight rapidly, and frequently running to the bathroom. Deep down, I felt that something was wrong, but little did I know it was diabetes. The most painful part was that no one around me took my complaints seriously. At school, it became harder to cope. I would need to leave class often to use the restroom or drink water, but instead of compassion, I was met with suspicion. Eventually, I was expelled from school
because they thought I was bluffing or making excuses. It was a deeply humiliating experience. Fear grew inside me. I didn’t understand what was happening to my body, and because of the lack of proper education and awareness in my community, neither did my family.

By June 2016, new symptoms appeared, like fungal infections on my skin, that pushed me to seek urgent medical help. A blood test revealed my A1C was around 14%, confirming I had diabetes. I was hospitalized for several days, during which I learned how to manage my insulin under the guidance of a caring doctor. She introduced me to DiaLeb, a nonprofit diabetes organization founded by Dr. Jackie Maalouf.

At first, accepting diabetes was overwhelming. I feared it meant my life was over, that I would grow old quickly or never live fully. But after joining DiaLeb and attending their activities and awareness sessions, I found hope. One story that particularly inspired me was that of Silvie Maalouf, Dr. Jackie’s daughter, who lives confidently with type 1 diabetes. Hearing her journey changed my perspective.

Through DiaLeb, I became active in raising awareness about diabetes. Every event, every session, every conversation strengthened my resolve. I realized that my diagnosis wasn’t an end, it was the beginning of a new purpose. I wanted to be the voice I didn’t have when I was first diagnosed. Years later, this passion led me to join the International Diabetes Federation’s Young Leaders in Diabetes (YLD) program. Becoming a YLD was a turning point. It connected me with young people around the world who shared similar stories, struggles, and dreams. It gave me a larger platform to advocate for diabetes education, awareness, and empowerment, not just in Lebanon, but globally. 

Today, I stand proud of the journey that started in a small village, through pain and rejection, to becoming a voice for others living with diabetes.