“Instead of wasting money on large advertising campaigns, all funds raised by our foundation goes toward purchase of supplies that go directly to patients in need of assistance; this isn’t a big company doing this for good PR, this is real help for people who need it.”

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F.A.C.T Foundation was created by William Sisca, a type-1 diabetic. William was diagnosed at the age of thirteen, changing his life forever. After spending years purchasing insulin and many other supplies at retail prices; and at many times forgoing testing or insulin dosages, William decided to start F.A.C.T Foundation to help fight this debilitating disease and ultimately find a cure. It has become his life mission to not only find a cure for himself and millions of other type-1 diabetics, but help the countless type-2 patients educate themselves on how to prevent or reverse this horrible epidemic.

The F.A.C.T. Foundation is committed to finding a cure for diabetes through fundraising, research, and determination.

They provide supplies to as many uninsured or under-insured patients as possible until a cure is found. The goal of F.A.C.T is to conduct private research using the world’s most cutting edge technologies.

MO: What were the main challenges you faced when discovering you had diabetes at the age of 13?

William: The 1st challenge was that I had to accept that my life would never be the way I was used to living before I was diagnosed. On top of knowing that I had to now do 4-6 finger sticks per day, and 3-4 insulin dosages, I also was playing 3 sports. Now 4-6 blood tests were increased to 6 or 7. I was pursuing a career in baseball, and needed my levels to be near perfect to play at the high level I was accustomed to playing at. Another huge challenge for any type-1 diagnosed at that age, was the uncontrollable hormone and testosterone levels any teen would have to deal with. This aspect of managing diabetes is still one of the toughest things to gauge, as blood sugar levels respond differently in all patients.

MO: How long have you wanted to put together a foundation like F.A.C.T and how hard has it been to create from the ground up? Who have been your main channels of support?

William: This idea has been a few years in the making. What really motivated me to finally turn the idea into a reality, was having my son. My son will always have a higher risk of contracting this disease than his peers. Until we find a cure, that is. We have had great support from local communities and businesses, as well as friends and family. Most friends and family members of diabetics know how much goes into proper diabetes care. Most have also seen the worst of what can happen. Shock, ketoacidosis, and even diabetic coma. I myself have been in Keto twice, shock once, and was 24 hrs from going into diabetic coma when I was first diagnosed.

MO: How big of an issue is it for diabetics to be under or uninsured? How can the F.A.C.T foundation assist patients with the obstacles that insurance can create?

William: This issue has hit me personally. I was uninsured and under insured at different points in my life. When I would try to get prescription assistance, I was told that I did not qualify. Most of these programs are done by Pharmaceutical companies as PR, and are not true assistance program at all. Our assistance program is simple. No one will be denied for any reason. Instead of wasting money on large advertising campaigns, all funds raised goes toward purchase of supplies, that go directly to patients in need of assistance.

MO: Do you find that there is a general lack of education and awareness about diabetes? If so, how do you hope to tackle this issue?

William: This probably our most important issue to resolve. If we do not know what we are dealing with, or how exactly to deal with it, we will spend valuable time and resources on things that are not productive. This issue starts with cutting edge research. Then proper communication of what needs to be done by the patient to best care for his or her disease. Empowering the patient is crucial for diabetes care. As day to day adjustments and accountability are on the patient to execute correctly.

MO: What company accomplishment are you most proud of so far?

William: So far, our most rewarding accomplishment is the awareness event we are hosting 1/21. We will be able to reach a few hundred people in the local communities, and hopefully help those patients in need of our organizations resources. Community events like this will done throughout the year, and continually in to the future.

MO: How possible do you think a cure for diabetes is? What kind of research is currently being conducted and have there been any recent breakthroughs?

William: I truly believe we will find a cure for diabetes. Scientists at DRI at the University of Miami Medical Center, are doing the world’s most cutting edge research. Stem Cells and islet replacement therapy are the closest thing we currently have to a true cure. There have been patients who received islet replacement therapy, who have been insulin free for 5+ yrs! That is amazing! I have had this disease for 16 yrs. Over that time, I have done more than 14,000 insulin injections, more than 25,000 blood tests, and have had more than 1,000 episodes of hypoglycemia. 5 years of none of that, would change my life.