Our Community

The DTO Community is a protected WhatsApp group created for the young people who took part in the Diabetes Type: Opportunity! project.

It is a safe space to share experiences, stay connected, meet again and keep up to date with project activities and the initiatives of the partner associations.

If you are over 18 and living with Type 1 Diabetes and would like to join the community, you can contact one of the project partner associations. They will forward your request and help you get in touch with the group administrators so you can be added.

Please note: this community is not a medical assistance service. It is a peer space built on mutual support, shared experiences and connection.

A huge thank you to everyone who worked on this project and helped build this network. This is just the first step toward a bigger and stronger community.

Diabetes Type: Opportunity! Experiences

Stories from people involved in DTO about travelling, studying and working abroad with Type 1 Diabetes.

Noemi Pè

🇮🇹 Italy • 🇺🇸 United States

My name is Noemi, I'm 20 years old and I'm from Brescia. I lived for a year in the United States, specifically near Austin, Texas. My bigges...

Victoria Nicoli

🇨🇴 Colombia • 🇮🇹 Italy • 🇲🇹 Malta

My name is Victoria, I am 23 years old, and I have been living with type 1 diabetes for ten years. I was born in Colombia but have always li...

Roberto Naddei

🇮🇹 Italy • 🇫🇮 Finland • 🇨🇳 China

My name is Roberto, I am 34 years old, and I'm from Naples. Through my work, I've had the opportunity to travel to several countries, often...

Laura Rizzi

🇮🇹 Italy • 🇮🇪 Ireland

My name is Laura, I am 32 years old, and I come from the province of Como. In 2024, I lived in Dublin, Ireland, for work—an experience that...

Giacomo Garda

🇮🇹 Italy • 🇸🇪 Sweden

My name is Giacomo Garda, I am 21 years old, I study Medicine in Bologna, and I am currently in Lund, Sweden, for a five-month study period...

Mattia Ambrosini

🇮🇹 Italy • 🇫🇷 France • 🇪🇸 Spain

My name is Mattia, I'm 26 years old and I'm from Bergamo. Currently, I work on developing components for a racing series, a role that often...

My name is Mattia, I'm 26 years old and I'm from Bergamo. Currently, I work on developing components for a racing series, a role that often takes me on business trips to France and Spain. Although these assignments are relatively short (no more than eight days), the intensity is high: I find myself working in an extremely dynamic environment where the hours are long and you're almost entirely confined to the pit box. It's a fast-paced rhythm that leaves little room for anything else, but it keeps the technical challenge alive. The constant concern before every departure can be summed up in one classic question: “Did I pack everything?” Over time, I've developed a mnemonic system based on color-coded containers: each category (from pump supplies to insulin pens and sensors) has its own specific color. I just need to check my suitcase to know whether that part is ready or not. I still remember once panicking because I thought I had forgotten the spare batteries, so I stopped at the first service station while I was still in Italy. Ironically, I didn't even have to replace them for the entire trip, but that stress taught me a lesson. When I'm abroad, managing diabetes requires extra caution, especially in such a dynamic environment. Constant movement and unpredictable schedules are variables you can't overlook, so I always carry candy with me. From a strictly medical standpoint, fortunately, I've never had any major problems. The only exception was when I needed treatment for a cut at a circuit: in that case, access to the Medical Center only required my European Health Insurance Card. Luckily, my company insures everyone, although I don't know what type of insurance it is or what it specifically covers regarding diabetes. These experiences are part of a job I enjoy and would like to keep doing. I don't think they've made me more independent, but rather they've confirmed that a person with diabetes can do anything without too many worries if placed in the right environment. To anyone who is leaving or planning to travel with type 1 diabetes, my advice is to always double-check that you've packed everything — just like my mom does with me.