Escaped Communist Hungary at the age of 10 with my mother and never saw the rest of my family again until 17 years later. For over a year my family presumed we were dead. Arrived in USA with no English ability and limited means. Often called the “best student” in my classes for persistence and achievement in my work.

After receiving my high school diploma in 1989,  I went to work right away as a sales representative for a computer media firm specializing in backup and archiving equipment to help support my mom who was always struggling financially–we were well-off in Hungary but our start in the US was with five dollars.  College was not an option and I did the very best I could with the cards I was dealt. Frequently, I was the top salesman at the company and that eventually lead to me starting my own firm. I have never looked back on this choice and always appreciated the tremendous opportunity of what America offered to anyone who was willing to work hard.

In 1999, I knew something was wrong. I was already skinny, and had just lost 20 more pounds within a month (my body was experiencing DKA) and I got the shocking diagnosis of being a Type 1 diabetic. Immediately I did my very best to self-manage on an ultra low-carbohydrate diet/extremely low sugar diet and try to avoid the stigma of being a diabetic. Initially this helped and it seemed like I was back to normal, as my pancreas was still able to partially function – plus I  didn’t want to believe my doctor. This is called the “honeymoon phase” (type 1.5–still making some insulin but there is a shortfall) and why I thought I could manage through this for so long. By 2003, my glucose levels were way out of control on a regular basis and I had to begin the much-needed but dreaded “needle” insulin treatment. I gained 25 pounds when going on insulin and looked so much healthier even though the daily management was hell. Looking back I should have started insulin therapy years ago during this “honeymoon” phase. My body had a terrible time using Novolog/Humalog resulting in  several Hypoglycemic “lows” that on a few occasions almost resulted in my death. After years of being as careful as possible and feeling like “giving up” because of not being able to keep my diabetes “in control” and the related depression and anxiety I sought out better means of diabetes treatment. Fortunately I was blessed to obtain one of the last openings in MannKind’s Afrezza drug trial in Atlanta through Dr. Bruce Bode of the Atlanta Diabetes Center.

Immediately and from day one, my life was subsequently changed for the better.  Since then, I have done my best through social media (Yahoo message Boards, blogspots and others) to provide honest, genuine and truthful information about my experience on Afrezza. It saved my life and has given me a near “normal” life again. This is what started my desire to reach other diabetics with my firsthand knowledge of Afrezza.

I sincerely hope you have the same results that I did. There is something special about the folks at MannKind, Al Mann, and the drug he refused to give up on that is going to help millions and millions of diabetics like myself.

Forever I will be indebted to everyone who had their fingerprints on Afrezza from the beginning until now. Whether you are a Researcher or Scientist, MannKind Employee, Doctor/Endocrinologist, Diabetes Educator or Foundation Advocate, FDA panelist, MNKD Equity Analyst or Business/Medical Journalist who believed in Afrezza, your legacy will be well-known. You are truly heroes who will help improve the quality of life for all diabetics around the world.  Thank you again MannKind for advancing a non-invasive, early onset and ongoing solution that will not only save people from going blind, and losing their limbs, their kidneys, their families (and their minds), from this terrible disease but it will also help people and their families live fuller and more productive lives. I am grateful beyond words.