Meet Devlin Chiffings, an endurance athlete and passionate advocate for diabetes awareness. In June 2020, life took an unexpected turn, when a routine visit to the emergency department for a collapsed lung revealed something he never saw coming: Type 1 diabetes.
Looking back, the signs had been there: weeks of unexplained fatigue and feeling unwell, but he never connected the dots.
"That first week was overwhelming," Devlin recalls.
"I remember realising that my relationship with food, my body, and my daily routine would never be the same. Even simple moments, like going out for a meal with friends, suddenly felt uncertain,"
"But as the shock settled, so did a new perspective. Instead of seeing my diagnosis as a limitation, I started to view it as a challenge to take control of my health."
Learning, testing, refining
Managing diabetes is never easy, but for Devlin, the biggest challenge came from his passion for endurance sports. As an athlete, balancing insulin, nutrition, and blood sugar stability around intense training has been a constant learning process.
"Patience and persistence are everything," he says.
"I've worked closely with professionals, tested different strategies, and learned from my own experiences. It's not always been smooth, but I've gained a much deeper understanding of my body."
Despite the challenges, Devlin refuses to let diabetes hold him back. He continues to push his limits, proving that elite performance is possible even with a chronic condition.
Routines that make a difference
Thanks to his insulin pump, Devlin has been able to remove much of the mental burden that comes with diabetes management. But if there's one thing he swears by, it's exercise.
"Exercise, exercise, exercise! Getting in a workout, especially in the morning, helps keep my blood sugar levels more stable throughout the day."
Planning ahead is another essential part of his routine. Preparing meals, packing supplies, and ensuring backups for his insulin pump and snacks make all the difference when managing the unexpected twists that diabetes can bring.
Finding strength in community
While diabetes can often feel like a solo battle, Devlin has found incredible support in the Type Strong community. Seeing others proudly wearing their patches or sharing their stories reminds him that he’s never alone.
"It’s an instant connection. I love hearing other people's experiences and knowing we’re all in this together. It gives me hope, not just for a cure one day, but for the strength we find in each other along the way."
Advice for newly diagnosed
Devlin knows all too well how overwhelming a diabetes diagnosis can feel at first, but if there’s one message he’d share, it’s this:
"It's going to be okay. You are not alone, and life will get better."
Rather than holding him back, diabetes has made Devlin more intentional about his health and well-being. In many ways, he believes he’s healthier than ever before.
Your condition doesn't define you
For Devlin, representation is everything. He wants young kids or anyone newly diagnosed to know that diabetes doesn’t define them. His dream is to continue breaking barriers as an endurance athlete, proving that diabetes isn’t a limitation.
Right now, he’s working toward an ambitious goal: running a 2-hour, 30-minute marathon. But beyond personal records, his mission is clear: to show that people with diabetes can not only participate, but compete at the highest levels.
One word that describes his journey? Transformative.
Diabetes is an undeniably difficult condition, but Devlin refuses to see it as a setback. Instead, he embraces the strength, resilience, and perspective it has given him.
"I take great pride in refusing to let this disease define or limit me. It’s not easy, but it has shaped me into a stronger person. No matter the challenges we face, we are all capable of greatness."
At Type Strong, we believe in stories like Devlin’s, stories of resilience, strength, and breaking limits. If you’re ready to keep pushing forward, our patches are here to support you every step of the way. We proudly help individuals with diabetes by offering innovative solutions like our FreeStyle Libre, Medtronic Guardian & Dexcom G7 adhesive patches, along with our new Tape roll. Choose the best CGM for your needs and enhance your experience with our high-quality adhesive patches today!