This is an episode of two parts. The main episode was recorded in September 2023, as my guest, 24-year-old medical doctor Mohammed Seyam was excitedly packing to move from his home in Gaza to London, to start a masters degree in Global Healthcare Management.

Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 11, Moe is a global diabetes advocate and educator. We spoke about the incredible work he’s done to change not only the cultural perception and stigma of type 1 diabetes, but to help the world live a better life with diabetes. This included playing an instrumental part in creating policy change that provided everyone living with type 1 diabetes in Palestine access to insulin pens.

We discussed Moe’s life growing up in the Gaza Strip, his family, his siblings, his joyful Zoom background full of the faces of diabetes. Moe spoke about how this work to change people’s lives through advocacy has shaped his professional goals - away from clinical medicine and towards policy making - to ensure changes that he makes are not only sustainable in the long-term, but are beneficial to as many people as possible.

Just weeks after we recorded, a humanitarian catastrophe began to unfold in Gaza, and as of December 2023, millions of people are displaced without access to basic needs.

It would have been remiss to publish the episode in its original form, and Moe joined me again this week to ensure that the voices of those living with type 1 diabetes in Palestine are heard, particularly at this time of crisis. He speaks at the beginning of this episode four months after we originally recorded to highlight the current issues facing the people of Gaza, particularly those living with type 1 diabetes, before the original episode is played in full.

This is an ongoing, developing situation, everything stated here is as of December 2023.

Thanks to Moe for his time, courage, and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others living with type 1 diabetes.

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HUMANITARIAN ORGANISATIONS YOU MAY WISH TO SUPPORT:
Life For A Child
Unicef
The British Red Cross Appeal
UNRWA (UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine)