Roy Derks, The Netherlands

Video interview with Roy
Watch the video interview with Roy telling about his life with diabetes and how he has learned to cope with the condition - access here (6:59 min.)

About Roy
Roy Derks is a sports fanatic passionate about volleyball and mountain biking. After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Technology Eindhoven, he pursued his PhD in the field of biosensors. He’s also into cars in a big way.
Roy knew something was wrong. He was increasingly tired, weak and thirsty, troubling signs for a natural born athlete. When he was finally diagnosed with diabetes type 1 in 2002 at the age of 21, it sent his life into a tailspin.

“It felt like I was suddenly cast into a leading role for a movie. But I wasn’t sure if the film was a tragedy, comedy or thriller. But after I had my first injection, I discovered there was no fiction involved at all. This was serious business,” he says.

The condition changed the way he dealt with his entire life. He took up the challenge by learning all he could about diabetes and how he could lead a healthy life with the condition.

Why he’s involved in DAWN Youth
Roy says that his “philosophy is that no matter how much medical help you have available, ultimately it is you who have to control your diabetes yourself.”

His experience has taught him that his diabetes influences every aspect in his life—and that everything in life affects his diabetes. It’s always a matter of making choices”, he says.

“I am involved in DAWN Youth because young people are the future of the world and I feel I need to help other people to overcome this struggle.”

Roy’s advice to others
“Even though diabetes is one of the most difficult diseases to control, I try to keep my daily life as true to how I want it to be. My best advice to others is to adapt your diabetes to your own life, and not the other way around. Try new things and learn by experience. It will improve your life living with diabetes!”