Matthew Deets lives with Type 2 diabetes. Unrelated to his diabetes, though, he has very limited sight. While many assume it’s a complication from diabetes, Matthew was actually born with “optic nerve hypoplasia” (ONH) — a condition involving damage to his optic nerves, the result being that his nerves didn’t develop correctly. Some people with ONH cannot see anything, others can see bright light. Matthew is legally blind as a result of being born with ONH.
In college, a guide-dog provided the extra guidance Matthew needed. He was a black-lab named Newton. Today, he uses a cane and the support of great friends and family to live in a world where vision is usually considered a necessity. He doses his own insulin, he graduated from Western Oregon University, and he exercises every week on the treadmill and his bike!
Having lost almost 200 lbs in the past few years, Matthew is definitely proof that changing your life is possible, exercising is possible, and managing diabetes is possible despite any challenges stacked against you.
But Matthew hardly considers his lack of sight a “disability” or a challenge. To him, it’s simply life.
Today, he’s involved in practically ever social media platform I can think of…and several I’ve never heard of. And he’s a self-proclaimed “geek” at matthewdeets.org.
“I love all things Apple,” says Matthew. “I switched from a PC back in 2005 because the the accessibility features that are built in to OS X and IOS across all Macs and Devices – nothing else even comes close out there, in my honest opinion!”
GINGER: Hi Matthew! You and I met through Facebook, if I remember correctly. You are definitely an active member of the DOC! (Diabetes Online Community)
MATTHEW: Hi Ginger! Yes, I discovered the Diabetes Online Community last summer. This changed my whole life with diabetes. I found that I wasn’t alone. I look forward to DSMA chat in twitter every week. Today, I couldn’t imagine living with diabetes without my friends in the DOC.
GINGER: What is life like lately around your diabetes management?
MATTHEW: I’m making time to workout just about every day — at least 5 to 6 days a week!
I want to note that I’m a type 2 and using insulin to manage my diabetes. I cannot say enough how much adding insulin therapy has improved my diabetes management! I just want people with type 2 to know that this is a step that they should not be afraid to take and although your diabetes may vary…it’s worked incredibly well for me!
My A1c was 7.1 before starting insulin Today, it’s 6.4 since my last visit after using insulin, and I hope to even have a better number when I visit my doctor on Monday!
GINGER: Okay, Matthew…I’m sure you’ve been on the receiving end of quite a few stereotypes that come along with being legally blind. What are some of the most surprising, ridiculous things people have said to you? 
MATTHEW: I’ve been very fortunate not to run into this very much at all. I do get the occasional question about blindness or diabetes, and I always try to educate people. As most people living with diabetes, I do occasionally run into the Food Police, but who doesn’t? I think that we each have our own challenges in life, and it’s how we choose to overcome those challenges that makes each of us who we are.
GINGER: What are some things you can still do that most people would be surprised about when thinking about life without vision?
MATTHEW: I like to say that I do everything that people with sight do in life!
GINGER: What was your diabetes diagnosis like?
MATTHEW: Something like…As I described that above, I don’t recall an actual “day I was diagnosed” or “d-anniversary” although there could have been. I was just finally fortunate enough to have a doctor who was able to help me to take control of my health. I remember that my lab tests came back out of wack and we went from there.
GINGER: What were the hardest things for you to face/change in your life as a result of being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes?
MATTHEW: I’ve made it my life goal or mission in life to take charge of my health. Learn all that I am able about Diabetes. I think that I am feeling better and am more healthy now that I’ve been in years! I think that it’s been more positive than negative. I’m not perfect — some days are better than others, I always try to remember that I am a person first and everything else second –numbers do not define me!
GINGER: How do you think your diabetes management is impacted by your ONH…if at all?
MATTHEW: I have tools that make help me to manage my diabetes independently. I using a Prodigy Voice talking Glucometer — specially designed for blind people. I like the Accu-Chek MultiClix because I don’t have to worry about loading lancets – I love my MultiClix. For logging, I like to use EndoGoddess for iPhone with VoiceOver. Looking forward to when Glooko makes a cable that works for my meter for easier logging.
GINGER: How do you overcome challenges and obstacles in your life? Do you have a personal mantra?
MATTHEW: I like to look at each day and say “what can I do today to….” make time to exercise, remember to count my carbs, manage my diabetes, etc. Then all of the days add up to make longterm results — if that makes sense…
GINGER: Thank you for giving us a glimpse into your life, Matthew!
Matthew’s favorite inspiring quotes are:
“People do best when they don’t do diabetes alone.” — Dr. Bill Polonsky
“There is nothing that you can do on the iPhone or iPad that I can’t
do.” –Stevie Wonder
