Dr. Robert Eckel is a prominent figure in the American Diabetes Association (ADA) not only because of his extensive 40-year career in endocrinology and heart complications but also because he has lived with type 1 diabetes (T1D) for over six decades. This personal experience gives him a unique understanding of the challenges faced by people with diabetes, which he has applied in his role as the ADA’s president of Medicine & Science. Dr. Eckel's insights were particularly valuable during the ADA’s first-ever virtual annual meeting in 2020, which saw over 12,500 registrants. The virtual format allowed for greater accessibility and flexibility, although it lacked the personal interactions of in-person meetings. Dr. Eckel's journey with diabetes began at the age of five, and he recalls the primitive methods of diabetes management in the 1950s, such as using Clinitest tablets to measure glucose levels in urine. Despite the challenges, he pursued a career in medicine, driven by curiosity about why people get sick and how treatments work. His personal and professional experiences have made him a strong advocate for diabetes research and management, emphasizing the importance of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and insulin pumps. Dr. Eckel also highlights the genetic aspect of T1D, noting that two of his five children also have the condition. He encourages people to view diabetes as a part of life rather than a disease, emphasizing the importance of ownership and management in living a full life with diabetes.