Diabetes awareness matters for every firefighter, and the FRCE’s new online course improves understanding, prevention, and operational readiness across the fire service
The truth is, I didn’t know enough about diabetes.
Sure, I learned a little during basic medical training. And sure, my doctor had talked to me more than once about the risks of diabetes if I didn’t maintain a healthy diet and weight. But if I’m being honest, that was largely the extent of it. It was background noise, important, but distant. Something to keep in mind, not something I truly cared about or understood.
That changed, thanks to Kyle Kondoff.
Kyle is a firefighter with the Waller-Harris Emergency Service District #200 in Texas and the founder of T1D Fire. Kyle lives with diabetes, and he refuses to let it define or limit him on the job. Through countless conversations, Kyle explained diabetes to me as a firefighter in an honest and open way. He discussed the realities of managing it on shift, the misconceptions that persist in the fire service, and the discipline and awareness required to stay operationally ready. In the process, he taught me far more than I realized I didn’t know. I’m grateful for that education, because it opened my eyes to something important: diabetes isn’t a “them” problem.
And it is something the fire service needs to understand better.
When most firefighters hear the word diabetes, they tend to think, “That doesn’t apply to me,” or “That’s someone else’s problem.” The truth is, diabetes is very much a fire service issue, and not just for the small percentage of firefighters who have been diagnosed with the condition.
That’s exactly why the First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE) developed its Diabetes Learning Management System (LMS) module. This course is a strong example of what the FRCE aims to do: identify problems the fire service often overlooks, discuss them in a real-world way, and provide firefighters with practical information they can use.
This Isn’t Just About Firefighters with Diabetes
Yes, the title of this new module says diabetes, but don’t let that fool you. This module isn’t only for firefighters living with the condition. It’s just as important for the rest of us.
Firefighting sets us up for risk. Long tours, interrupted sleep, stress, quick meals grabbed between calls, and years of wear and tear on the body all add up. Many firefighters who don’t have diabetes today are heading down that road without realizing it. This module helps connect those dots early, before it becomes a career-changing diagnosis.
It’s also valuable for officers and chiefs, especially those making decisions about hiring, return-to-work, or accommodations. Too often, diabetes is misunderstood or treated as an automatic disqualifier. The reality is far more nuanced, and that nuance matters.
One of the strengths of this LMS module is that it doesn’t talk about diabetes in a vacuum. It looks at it through a fire service lens.
It addresses how diabetes can affect things we actually care about on the job: energy levels, heat tolerance, hydration, decision-making, and long-term cardiovascular health. It also explains the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, dispels common myths, and outlines what effective management looks like in an operational environment. Most importantly, it recognizes the realities of the job, missed meals, interrupted sleep, and unpredictable calls, and works within that framework.
Why Prevention Matters
A big takeaway from the module is that diabetes prevention matters just as much as diabetes management. Firefighters are great at responding to emergencies, but we’re not always good at recognizing slow-burning health problems until they become severe.
This course helps firefighters understand early warning signs, risk factors, and small changes that can make a big difference over time. That’s not about being perfect, it’s about being informed and making better decisions when you can.
Prevention isn’t just a personal issue, either. Departments benefit from healthier members, fewer medical-related time off or retirements, and more experienced firefighters staying on the job longer.
Smarter Decisions, Less Stigma
Another important piece of this module is education for those in leadership and hiring roles. Too many decisions about diabetes are driven by fear, outdated information, or liability concerns rather than facts.
This course helps leaders understand what diabetes is, and what it isn’t, so they can make fair, informed decisions that balance safety, inclusion, and operational readiness. That benefits everyone in the firehouse.
Firefighters Teaching Firefighters
At the end of the day, this is how the fire service has always moved forward: firefighters teaching firefighters. Long before formal courses, research papers, or online modules, we learned at the kitchen table, on the rig, and from the people we trusted who had been there before us. This diabetes LMS module continues that tradition in a modern way. It reflects a culture where experience and mentorship matter, and where looking out for one another includes health, longevity, and getting everyone home safely.
Kyle Kondoff showed me that first-hand. By sharing his experience and knowledge, he not only manages his diabetes but also helps others understand it. (Kyle was also the firefighter subject-matter expert on the development of this module.)
When firefighters take the time to learn from each other, whether it’s about fire behavior, leadership, or managing a condition like diabetes, we ensure the next generation is better prepared than we were.
