'I didn't want people to notice my diabetes, so I'd go to the music room very often at school, to have my insulin and eat my lunch where no one could see me.'

Until last year, 25-year-old singer Tom Ball was busy spreading his passion for music as a secondary school teacher in his home county of West Sussex. Then he decided to audition for Britain’s Got Talent - and he went all the way to the final.

Going from teaching a classroom of students to performing in sold out venues, to say Tom's life has changed in the past year is an understatement. Tom is not only adapting to life in the spotlight, he's bringing his type 1 diabetes with him - after he was diagnosed at the age of 8.

Despite his day-to-day routine being thrown out the window for all the right reasons, Tom's managed to navigate his chronic condition with the help of his fab support system and some useful diabetes technology. But more than that, life as a singer has given him confidence to accept his type 1 diabetes, and he's now talking about it publicly in a bid to help others, after years of not speaking about it at all.

Tom also happens to be one of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure of interviewing. If you haven't heard his phenomenal voice, I can only urge you to seek out his music immediately.

CONNECT WITH TOM:
Follow Tom on Instagram
Check out Tom's Website for Music and Performance Dates, including his debut album and 2024 tour dates!
Check out My Diabetes Story on Instagram.

SPONSOR MESSAGE:
Thanks to my episode sponsors Insulet, the founders of Pod Therapy - only found with Omnipod.

Pod therapy uses a tubeless, wearable and waterproof Pod that continuously delivers insulin for up to three days.

Controlled wirelessly by its handheld companion, it allows you to personalise your insulin doses according to your own daily needs - no multiple daily injections and no tubes.

Head to https://www.omnipod.com/ to find out more.