Tiffany Johnson

Immune Kamikaze | Diabetes Podcast

In this episode I talk to type 1 diabetic Tiffany Johnson, from Melbourne in Australia.

Tiffany’s journey with type 1 diabetes started very differently from the vast majority of other people with type 1 diabetes. Typically, when a person is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, the cause of their diabetes is a result of their immune system attacking the cells which produce insulin, hence type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease.

That’s not what caused Tiffany’s type 1 diabetes. In 1999, Tiffany was involved in a canyoning accident in Switzerland which sadly took the lives of 21 people. At the time of the tragedy, during a non-war period, it was the largest number of deaths of Australians outside of Australia. Remarkably, Tiffany survived but sustained injuries to her pancreas which resulted in a diagnosis with type 1 diabetes. Not only was Tiffany diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, Tiffany broke bones and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and survivors’ guilt from the fatal canyoning accident.

During the episode, we discuss at length the accident and Tiffany’s incredible recovery and journey with type 1 diabetes. Tiffany is a remarkable woman who demonstrates the power of believing in yourself and that determination and positivity are key ingredients to a successful life with type 1 diabetes.

Picture credit: http://tiffanyjohnson.com.au/