Melvin was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just 5 years old. He hopes to help educate people about the complications of diabetes and inform people about what can happen when diabetes is not properly managed.
Melvin lives with Type 1 diabetes and resides in Cassopolis, Michigan. He is a travel agent and in his free time enjoys yoga, traveling, hiking, and cooking.
When I was 11, I became very sick with a flu virus, my mom thought that medicine and rest would help. I kept getting worse, drinking water every second I got, throwing up, barely being able to walk and there was this awful pain going down my entire side starting at my neck. My mom decided that we should go to the walk-in clinic and when we did I was passing out and waking back up, I could barely walk, or talk and the doctor took one look at me and said I needed to go to the ER.
My T1DM journey started when I was 6 years old — that was 56 years ago. It was the time we used glass syringes, Tes Tape, Benedict’s Solution, and impure beef and pork insulins.
I was raised by a single parent, and while it was sometimes difficult, I was encouraged to do anything I wanted — play sports, go to college, attend graduate school, hike the Appalachian Trail, and now, summit mountains.
Now retired from practicing pharmacy in a clinical setting, I have the time to backpack and mountaineer. I’m finishing up the 50 state high points, with Denali being my last to do.
Niketa lives a busy life as an actress, acting coach and producer, but she still finds time to stay involved with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and advocate for the diabetes community. This is her story:
Many in Maryland are increasingly feeling the effects of diabetes, and many others may have diabetes and may not know it! It is our mission to educate those living with diabetes and prediabetes as well as to prevent more people from getting diabetes.
People in Michigan are increasingly feeling the effects of diabetes, and many others may have diabetes and not know it! It is estimated that one out of every three children born after 2000 in the United States will be directly affected by diabetes.
Minnesotans and North Dakotans are increasingly feeling the effects of diabetes, and many others may have diabetes and may not know it!
That is why the American Diabetes Association's Minneapolis-Saint Paul office is so committed to educating the public about how to stop diabetes and support those living with the disease.
We are here to help!
Missourians are increasingly feeling the effects of diabetes, and many others may have diabetes and not know it.
That is why the American Diabetes Association's Missouri office is so committed to educating the public about how to stop diabetes and support those living with the disease.
We are here to help!
With your support, the American Diabetes Association® can continue our lifesaving work to make breakthroughs in research and provide people with the resources they need to fight diabetes.