Tim Duffy is an adventurous guy. He ski patrols in Utah, guides clients in the mountains in Alaska and just bought Pangaea Adventures, a kayaking outfit in Valdez. Like me, Duffy is a type 1 diabetic.

While he and I have quite a bit in common, I had never heard of him until I saw the May issue of Diabetes Forecast Magazine. Here’s the link: http://forecast.diabetes.org/magazine/features/outdoorsman-tim-duffy-pushes-limits?page=0%2C0

Seems that when Duffy sought to buy the kayak company, he also needed to captain a boat for his clients, for which he would need a license. After reviewing his health history, the Coast Guard denied his license.

With the help of a lawyer, Duffy fought the Coast Guard, who ultimately reversed their decision and granted him his Master Inland license.

This guy didn’t give up.

When I was first diagnosed with diabetes. I was 22 years old, and I thought it was a death sentence.  A year later I climbed Mt. Rainier, the tallest volcano in Washington. I realized that while I’d have to make adjustments, my life didn’t have to be diminished. In some ways, having a chronic disease has forced me to expand my horizons, challenging me to try ever more challenging obstacles. Just to say I can.

An ancient Chinese proverb posits “one disease, long life; no disease, short life.” Ever since I was diagnosed, this has been my motto.

Obviously, Tim Duffy got the same memo.