Living with diabetes since age 12 and running foundation for change: Geraldine Trada opens up (VIDEO)

At just 12 years old, Geraldine’s life took a dramatic turn when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, a condition that requires constant insulin therapy and careful monitoring. Living in the UK, she faced not only the physical demands of managing her condition but also the emotional challenges of being misunderstood by teachers and coaches.

Dropped from her netball team and labeled a “burden,” she struggled with her self-confidence and fell into depression. Her mother, Tracy Mutesi, a caregiver to Geraldine’s grandfather who lived with Type 2 diabetes, became her unwavering support, encouraging her to see beyond her diagnosis.

During a trip to Rwanda in 2019, Geraldine visited Muhima Hospital in Kigali, where she met young Rwandans also living with Type 1 diabetes. The stark contrast between their healthcare access and hers in the UK deeply impacted Geraldine.

Recognizing the disparity in opportunities, she decided to use her story to create change.

“I could turn this pain into purpose,” she realized, aspiring to be a role model and show others that they were not alone.

In 2019, Geraldine co-founded the Geraldine Trada Foundation (GT Foundation) with her mother. The foundation aims to educate, support, and empower young people with Type 1 diabetes in Rwanda, breaking the stigma surrounding the condition.

The foundation runs programs like school awareness campaigns, outreach to rural areas, and empowering camps for youth and caregivers.

It started with modest funding from family and friends but has since expanded with multi-year funding in 2024, growing through local partnerships and media storytelling.

Geraldine is passionate about educating the public on the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. She aims to challenge harmful myths that suggest diabetes is caused by poor lifestyle choices, especially in relation to sugar consumption.

As an award-winning Economics graduate pursuing an MSc in International Development, she advocates for better access to diabetes care, having served as a Campaign Champion with Diabetes UK.

Looking forward, Geraldine envisions a future where no young person feels limited by diabetes.

She dreams of creating a hub that offers education, support, and a community for youth and caregivers, with the goal of empowering young people to live without barriers.

Geraldine also encourages anyone newly diagnosed to remember, they are not alone.

“The challenges you face today are ones I once faced too, but you can overcome them.”

Today, at 23, Geraldine balances her studies in the UK with her work in Rwanda, proving that personal adversity can spark a global movement of hope, education, and empowerment.

The Geraldine Trada Foundation continues to make a lasting impact, standing as a reminder that resilience, family love, and purposeful action can transform challenges into platforms for progress.