Just over two years ago, I was overweight, feeling depressed and not really taking care of myself.  Now, I’m a Diabetes Champion.  Everything changed in May 2008, when I got a severe infection in my right leg where I could have lost my leg or worse.  The doctors told me I had pre-diabetes.

That’s what I call a huge wake-up call to take care of myself. I stayed 5 weeks in the hospital where they taught me how to deal with the disease. I had to learn to walk again and it took me a year and half to fully recover.   I learned to eat right and I started to workout with a personal trainer 3 times a week and so far, I lost 35 pounds. I’m able to control my diabetes and hopefully, I’ll be able to prevent type 2 diabetes.

When I left the hospital a year and a half ago, I was taking 1 pill a day to control my sugar level. Today, I’m only taking a half a day, and my goal is to get rid of it altogether. I’m also volunteering for the Canadian Diabetes Association. It really helps me to learn about the disease and it gives me the occasion to meet extraordinary people.