I have been living with type 1 diabetes since I was four, 24 years now. There have been good and bad times with hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and diabetic comas. I went to diabetes camps in my country and one in Guinea, where I met many people with diabetes like me. It was cool to see that so many in the world fight for themselves and others like us.
I went to school, and in June 2018, I got a Bachelor’s in business management with a specialisation in finance and accounting. I worked for two years as a commercial trainee and then account manager in a bank. I also practice Vovinam Việt Võ Đạo, a Vietnamese martial art, and have been a national athlete since 2012. I have participated in ten national and four African championships: in 2012 in Algeria, in 2016 in Abidjan in Ivory Coast, and in 2018 in Morocco. I also competed at the world championships in 2015 in Algiers, in 2017 in India and 2019 in Cambodia.
Diabetes didn’t stop me from graduating, working and training. There are many ways to manage type 1 diabetes, but sport is best for me. Regular physical training can help reduce insulin levels, reduce the amount of insulin used each month, and save money. I stopped working for the bank, and now, I’m a personal trainer. I train people in boxing, fitness and Vovinam Viet Vo Dao. My dream is to become a professional trainer with my own gym.
