Scott K. Johnson is a prominent Type 1 diabetes (T1D) advocate, blogger, and speaker diagnosed in 1980 at age five. Known for early work in the online diabetes community and his blog, scottsdiabetes.com, he focuses on the emotional and technology-driven aspects of diabetes management. He has worked extensively with mySugr and now with Blue Circle Health, aiming to empower patients and improve diabetes care. I sat down with Scott recently to talk about staying resilient when faced with the challenges of aging and of T1D in general.

Judith Jones Ambrosini is the oldest person I know with type 1 diabetes, and she’s probably had it longer than anyone I know. When I was beginning to make my mark in diabetes, she was already in the thick of it. She’s been a board member with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), a board member of DESA (Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association), a journalist who wrote for many diabetes magazines, a professional chef and caterer who taught nutrition, she volunteered at Children with Diabetes’ conferences for more than twenty years, and taught Tai Chi at TCOYD (Taking Control of Your Diabetes) conferences in San Diego. When I first met Judith, thirty odd years ago, she blared at me something I’ve never forgotten: “You’re using the poor man’s pump!,” while looking at my syringe trying to convert me. Alas, she never did, but I loved her passion and commitment to helping others. At 83, Judith tells it like it is, then and now, and shares a few wild stories in-between.