What I would like to fundraise is enough money for more research for people with Diabetes.

I am an artist a painter. I now am 39 years old and have only one eye to use. My left eye works well, my right eye sees, but very very badly and it all looks troubled. I am used to using only my left eye and as far as I can remember it has always been this way but it's getting worse in sight because of the diabetes. Anytime that I have a lower level of sugar, I believe my body is attacked by the brain and for that reason I am loosing my sight slowly. But with only one eye of use, it worries me a lot. Though I am using glasses I am not sure if in a few years more I am still able to pick up a pencil to draw or a brush to paint. To some of my friends I already said in a few years I guess I may be blind. They are shocked when I tell them, but if I don't act now, I will get there.

I was diagnosed with Diabetes at the age of sixteen. But while thinking back at the moment I got diagnosed, the picture in my mind changes completely. That day I had to hurry to the Hospital with my grandmother after seeing our doctor. We were sitting on the table having our lunch and she asked me if I wanted to drink anything so I asked her for giving me milk. We always used those 2l bottles, but in ten minutes time I drank two of those completely. This made my grandmother really worried because I continued to have thirst and a very dry mouth. We rushed to our doctor and he told me, that my sugar level was that high that it couldn't be measured. So we had to rush to the Hospital Emergencies. Once I got there, my life completely changed. They told me that usually people whom get diagnosed with Diabetes, start with medications, but pills. My sugar level was so very high, so they had to give me Insuline immediately. Than the struggle begin...

It is very hard to realize from one day to another that you have an illness which is chronical. And from that same day on you are in need of medicine at any time. Thinking about what can I eat and what not? At what moment can I eat this etc. Routine I have come to find out is very important when it comes to eating, since I got diagnosed. But what to eat has been my struggle for over years. A few years ago I decided to go to the gym and that changed my life even more, but for the better. Since I am doing my sports, six days a week, I feel much better, more energetic and stopped having those 'heavy' leggs. I remember starting with sports, I didn't want to go at first because I always had in mind, if I do train to hard I might have trouble with my sugar levels. But it turned out to be the opposite of that. Now if you have Diabetes and you want to do gym, eat before you go and right back after when you come home. I can advise you on what to eat, but I am convinced that nobody can do it better than you, yourself!

Nobody has helped me, nobody could advise me on what to do best when you're having Diabetes and want to go to the gym. The first day when I started, next to me a man fell down, everyone had to leave and we had to wait outside when the ambulance came. He got carried out and we heard after that he had died because of a heart attack. He had health problems with his heart, so that made me realize how dangerous it can be if you do have an illness and start doing sports. It also made me realize that if you do have an illness and want to do sports, maybe you go just fine, it depends each and everyone. I am also sure that it is very difficult for doctors to control any person with Diabetes well, because you may have diabetes and eat sweets or meals, for example eight times a day, while another person with Diabetes may try the same and feel bad for days...

Diabetes is personal, I believe. Like we before always heard what's your type of Diabetes? Type 1 or Type 2, it somehow always sounded strange to me, but the latest thing I heard is that it's not been used anymore that way, Diabetes is Diabetes, they finally say.

Another part of my story is that me, up till the age of fourteen, I displayed symptoms of frequent urination, drinking more than normal, abrupt changes in energy and it is all related. I believe truly that I was born with Diabetes, but somehow I got Diagnosed sixteen years later. I always had those strange moments if I for example had to wait for my school breaks, remembering of not making it getting down the stairs. But somehow I always had this 'need' of eating sweets while having these types of moments. Years later I moved to Spain where I am still living here I realized that the sun to me as a person with Diabetes helps me a lot, it is so important for me receiving sunlight on my skin. It helps me to use less insulin even so and because the sun takes a lot of my energy at times I am allowed and able to eat sweets than.

I want to do the best I can every day with everyday life. I want to do everything I can so that I can avoid Diabetes complications that's why I find my sports very helpful. Diabetes despite it classified as a chronic illness is manageable. Control is possible through research, routine, dedication, and technology all in combination. Some doctors provide insights and recommendations that can change one’s life for the positive. I would encourage that one learn about the technology available generally speaking for managing Diabetes whether it is insulin pumps, insulins, or CGMs. Exercise whether it is biking, running, lifting weights, or boxing is so crucial to help one increase his or her insulin sensitivity, which results in the body needing less insulin, I am using less insulin now, I was able to skip one of the four shots I have to take each day. But only because of my self figured out diet.

I use two types of insulin subcutaneously. One is a short acting insulin, Novo Rapid and the other is a long acting insulin, Lantus. I have used other types of insulin in the past but because of my 'personal Diabetes' Those weren't good enough for me.

I am asking you to support me and help raise enough money for those whom investigate. Without being able to see, life is not as beautiful as it is now. Also I want to continue painting for as long as I am still able to. Some of my art that I have for sale you can find through the following link:

https://wa.me/c/34626124791 (Catalogue)

Here you enter in my Catalogue and see each and every information about the work in both English and Spanish. Contact me for more information or if you are interested in buying one of them. Thank you. And yes all has been painted by me, with only one eye that allows me to see. But as I said, my sight is getting worse, because of the Diabetes so it is very important to me, to continue talking to doctors / specialists and even with having Diabetes prevent me and others from getting completely blind?

Support me in any way that you can! It is very much appreciated.