A Bridgeport musician with diabetes spoke with News 12 about his life and struggle with the disease during National Diabetes Awareness Month.

Tom Applegate, 71, was placed into foster care at a young age. Later in life, he became a social worker.

“I was a social worker who did home visits, and I had Bridgeport clients,” he said.

Applegate says many of those clients had diabetes themselves. Over the years, he made a habit of pointing them to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Diabetes Prevention Program.

“You should really take advantage of it, if you haven’t already,” he said.

The professional musician hopes to inspire others through relatable and positive messages in his art.

News 12’s Frank Recchia has more from Bridgeport.