12-year-old Christine Kisianan lives in a remote village in Kajiado County, one of the regions in Kenya most affected by the greater Horn of Africa drought, which is in its fourth year. Her family does not have enough food to eat and she sometimes has to stay at home for weeks on end when her parents cannot afford her school fees.

Christine also has type 1 diabetes, a chronic condition whereby the pancreas produces little or no insulin by itself and which mostly affects young people. For those living with diabetes, maintaining a healthy diet and access to affordable treatment, including insulin, is critical. This is a challenge for Christine who often doesn’t know when her next meal will be.

After being diagnosed in mid-2022, Christine has had to adapt quickly to survive and to ensure that she gets her daily shot of insulin. Her parents managed to obtain a fingerstick device which she uses to monitor her blood sugar levels. 

“I started injecting myself, monitoring myself. At first, I was very afraid, but I am now used to it,” she says. 
Despite her adverse circumstances, Christine is hopeful for the future. “I want to go back to school so that once I’m cured, I can help the world,” she says. 

Christine has used her experience of living with a chronic condition and in a state of food crisis to look outward. “I want to be a doctor; I want to treat people with diabetes,” she says. “I have become an expert now.” 

With many thanks to Christine for sharing her story.