Meet Kyle Kondoff
Kyle is a firefighter and the founder of T1D Fire, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting people living with diabetes. Kyle, who lives with Type 1 diabetes, turns his personal experience into purpose, using his story to inspire and empower others. He understands the physical, mental, and emotional challenges of managing diabetes as a firefighter and is committed to making a difference.
Kyle's T1D Diagnosis Story
Kyle’s journey with Type 1 Diabetes began long before he received a diagnosis. In 2014, while working on an offshore oil rig as part of a confined space rescue team, he began experiencing subtle but persistent symptoms—frequent thirst, increased trips to the bathroom, and occasional blurred vision. At the time, these signs were easy to overlook. Long hours, physically demanding work, limited access to healthy food, and environmental conditions on the rig all seemed like reasonable explanations.
Over the next two years, those symptoms continued, often attributed to dehydration, diet, or even side effects from medication. It wasn’t until 2016, after experiencing prolonged blurred vision while working in a hospital setting, that Kyle mentioned his symptoms to a nurse. For the first time, diabetes was suggested as a possibility.
Shortly after, Kyle checked his blood sugar for the first time. The reading was dangerously high—well above normal levels. Recognizing the seriousness, he went to the hospital, where he was initially diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and prescribed medication. However, despite following medical guidance, his blood sugar levels remained elevated.
After several weeks without improvement, Kyle sought further evaluation. His primary care physician quickly recognized that the initial diagnosis did not align with his age, weight, or overall health profile. Additional testing confirmed that Kyle had Type 1 Diabetes.
The diagnosis marked the beginning of a new chapter—one that required learning how to manage insulin, understand carbohydrates, and adapt to a completely different way of living. Like many newly diagnosed individuals, the early days were overwhelming, with a steep learning curve and an influx of new information.
Over time, Kyle began to better understand how his body responded to food, insulin, and daily routines. Through education, persistence, and personal experience, he developed a more proactive approach to managing his condition.
Today, Kyle uses his journey to bring awareness to the importance of early recognition, accurate diagnosis, and education around Type 1 Diabetes. His story reflects not only the challenges of diagnosis but also the resilience required to navigate life with a chronic condition.
