Matt's Story
I realize that my words could be those of others in my situation, and for that I'm privileged to deliver my message.
Managing my blood glucose levels for the last 14 years by myself has been nothing short of fun. The ups and downs from my personal management have given me a lot to think about and reflect on how to live a more enjoyable life.
During this time I had to re-evalualte my goals and set new ones. Changed my daily routine, my diet, my exercise regiment, and my mental focus. It was a slow process that required one step at a time - and the most recent has been the best yet. I've started working with a Service Dog - Forest to help me with a bevy of daily activities.
Forest is able to help alert me to dangerous and unsuspecting Highs and Lows - as I've been dealing with hypounawareness for a long time. This condition effects a lot of diabetics - leaving them unable to feel extreme lows that could pose a threat to their safety. Especially when sleeping, driving, or you know - doing anything.
Working with a service animal has made my days longer, require 1000% of my attention at all times, and contain way more responsibility than I could have ever imagined - butI'm the happiest man in the world.
I'm an artist and creator who shoots video and photography everywhere I go and use it to tell stories that are otherwise left untold. I've been working on my skills for the last 10 years while working a 9-5.
The next step will be the hardest and most rewarding - as I'm planning on leaving my corporate job in the near future to pursue a life of education and empowerment focused on Type 1 Diabetics, mainly our youth.
Matt Tarro