Diabetoboy Bio

Diabetoboy is Jim Varagona. 

The name Diabetoboy is actually a term that was used by a boy in grade school to torment me.  I thought it was funny, and by stamping it all over everything, I feel like it shows the crap I have overcome.

I was born and raised in St. Louis as a Catholic boy, but I try to stay away from those crazy Catholics now.  I went to Bishop DuBourg High School (to answer the famous St. Louisan question), and recently graduated from Webster University with a B.A. in Media Communications and a Minor in Political Science.

I dabble in the arts, such as videography, photography, and writing.  I have completed many short projects for school and otherwise and two feature length documentaries--one on the king of St. Louis public access television, Pete Parisi, and his show World Wide Magazine, entitled simply P.E.P., the other T51: The Eve of Destruction, which chronicles the last weeks of a Target store in St. Louis where I worked, through interviews with frequent customers (or "guests") and employees (or "team members").

As you may have gathered, I do have Type 1 Diabetes, which I treat with an insulin pump.  I have lived with the disease since I was 13, and sometimes it is hell, but you get used to the blood, the poking, and the needles.

I married Shannon, my girlfriend of 5 years, on May 21st of this year (2006).   I proposed this last May, by singing a slick version of Dean Martin's "That's Amore," accompanied by an accordion.  For more info. on us and our nuptials, visit our wedding site.

The purpose of this site is to expose my work, give me a medium to vent through, and maybe...some day...make me a buck.  So peruse as you will.  Contact me at jim@diabetoboy.com with any questions, comments, or suggestions, and don't forget to visit my stores and add me on myspace.

Thanks for stopping by.

-JIM