[Q]: How has type 1 diabetes affected your day-to-day job as a firefighter?
[Blanco]: The biggest adjustment is definitely eating habits. As you know, managing type 1 is all about keeping blood sugars stable and avoiding the highs and lows. At the station, that’s not always easy. People are kind and bring us cookies, popcorn, chips, and all sorts of snacks, which are hard to resist. On top of that, firefighters usually work long shifts, and my schedule is 48 hours on, followed by four days off. We buy and cook meals together as a crew, which means lots of shared food and plenty of temptations.
For me, I’ve learned to always have healthy options ready. Mixed nuts are my go-to, and I keep them on hand constantly. I also stash small snack packs everywhere—my pockets, my bags, even my fire gear. That way if I take insulin and suddenly get called out before eating, I have something to keep my blood sugar stable until I can sit down for a meal. Hospitals also provide snacks for EMS, so I make sure to grab some extras when I can.
So, it comes down to preparation—making sure I have the right foods available to avoid the roller coaster and stay safe while working.
[Q]: If you’re on a call and your blood sugar drops, what procedures do you follow?
[Blanco]: Every department has its own guidelines, but I’ve developed a personal code of ethics: I always want to be prepared and never put my coworkers or patients at risk. That means keeping those caches of snacks everywhere.
There have been times I’ve walked into a call literally finishing a snack to keep my sugar from dropping. Other times, I’ve told my captain I need to grab a Gatorade before we head inside. My priority is making sure I’m safe and steady before helping someone else.
If I’m in the back of an ambulance and suddenly feel my sugar dropping, it’s definitely nerve-wracking. But I’ve learned that part of being a healthcare worker means recognizing when you need a moment—whether it’s for mental, emotional, or physical reasons. I’ll let my partner know, step back briefly if needed, and make sure I’m able to continue without putting anyone at risk. So far, I’ve always been able to manage it without it affecting patients or colleagues.
[Q]: What is the scariest or most nerve-wracking part of being a first responder with type 1?
[Blanco]: The scariest possibility is not being prepared and accidentally putting someone in danger. Our job is to save lives, and the idea of harming someone because I wasn’t managing my condition is my biggest fear.
That’s why I focus so much on knowing my body. Technology like CGMs is great, but I also train myself to recognize the physical signs—whether I’m going high, low, or if it’s just anxiety. Stress can mimic those feelings, so I’ve had to learn how to calm myself and assess what’s really happening. That awareness is what keeps me safe on the job.
[Q]: Does having type 1 diabetes change the way you approach the job? And does it help you empathize more with patients?
[Blanco]: Absolutely. I’ve trained myself to be ready for the demands of the job and I prepare my body before anything physically intense. Most of the time, I don’t even think about having diabetes. I don’t see it as a handicap. But every now and then something will remind me, like catching my CGM on a doorframe, and I think, “Oh yeah, I have diabetes.”
Empathy is a huge part of it. Most healthcare workers take some kind of medication or deal with a condition, but having type 1 really helps me connect with patients. I don’t just sympathize with them—I empathize. I know what it’s like to live with something that constantly requires attention.
When I treat another diabetic, I’m immediately curious about their management: what insulin they use, their CGM, their routine. But beyond that, it also helps me understand people with other autoimmune diseases. Even if their condition is different, I can stand beside them and say, “I get it. You don’t know why this is happening yet, but you’ll figure it out.” That connection matters.
[Q]: How have your department and peers responded to your diagnosis?
[Blanco]: I’ve worked in different areas, including firefighting, EMS liaison work for hospitals, and education, so I’ve met a lot of firefighters and chiefs. With the exception of one department I won’t name, the support has been overwhelming.
At my current department, my chiefs and peers are 100% behind me. They’re curious and ask questions about my devices, my routines, what I can and can’t eat. They treat me as fully capable, not as someone with a limitation, and that feels good. Their support makes it clear that they see me as a firefighter first, not just a diabetic firefighter.
[Q]: What would you say is the biggest disadvantage, and also the biggest advantage, of having type 1 as a first responder?
[Blanco]: It’s both a challenge and a motivator. You can view diabetes as an excuse, or you can see it as a reason to push harder. For me, it’s like carrying a chip on my heart, not something that weighs me down, but something that drives me.
I know I have to work harder than the next guy to prove that diabetes doesn’t define my ability. That mindset pushes me to go above and beyond in my career. And hopefully, it shows others with type 1 that they can do it too.
[Q]: What would you say to a young child with type 1 who dreams of becoming a first responder?
[Blanco]: I’d tell them this: the fire service is a family. We live together, eat together, and work side by side for days at a time. It’s not just a career, it’s a brotherhood.
If one department doesn’t accept you, don’t let that discourage you. That just means it’s not your family. Somewhere else, there’s a group of people who will see the good in you and welcome you in.
Most importantly, don’t ever feel ashamed or think something is “wrong” with you. Yes, you’re managing a disease, but it doesn’t define you. Focus on being the best version of yourself, and you’ll find the right place and the right people who will become your lifelong family.
