In a conversation with Devex’s Kate Warren as part of Devex Impact House @ UNGA80, Ankur Mukherjee, a Type 1 diabetes advocate with Beyond Type 1, reflected on how his personal journey has shaped his advocacy for people living with the condition.
Mukherjee, who was a teacher in India before being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, said the diagnosis transformed his life in unexpected ways. “I am in the U.S. because of Type 1 diabetes. I couldn’t have been in New York if I did not have Type 1 diabetes,” he said. He also emphasized the importance of language, noting that people should say they are living with diabetes rather than suffering from it.
Discussing the broader challenges faced by people with diabetes, Mukherjee pointed to stigma as one of the most persistent barriers, particularly in India. He shared an anecdote about a father who was more concerned about his daughter’s marriage prospects than her access to insulin. “Stigma is something very grave, and it is different in every part of the world,” he said. Mukherjee concluded with a call for greater inclusion of patient voices in decision-making: “Whenever you talk about us, talk with us.”
Watch the highlights from the conversation or the full interview.