“I am a Diabetes Champion because I believe that I can make a difference in the lives of the more than 2.4 million Canadians living each day with this disease (and I am one of them).

Since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes more than 6 years ago, I have experienced first-hand the impacts on my life and the lives of my family members. Watching, and listening to my adult children has opened my eyes to what happens in the lives of the people who are nothing more than supports of my health.

Whether it be though my involvement in advocacy, speaking to various audiences about diabetes, raising funds as a member/participant of the Team Diabetes program or simply having a casual conversation with people — letting them know what things are like, I feel I can spread a positive light on what could be perceived as a negative situation.”

“I am a Diabetes Champion because…

I believe that to conquer this disease we must win the battles within ourselves first. I tell myself that diabetes is only a part of me and that the whole of “me” is what really matters. I win my battles by setting goals to reach, putting a plan together and executing it to the best of my ability. Once I have learned something new about “me and Diabetes”, I go on to the next thing. It only ends when we have won.”

“Henry, my Brother, living with diabetes for 20 years, was my supporter in Rome 2006 at the Team Diabetes marathon, aka King Henry. Henry did participate in Kelowna 2008 and has signed up for Ottawa May 2010. Henry is busy raising awareness for World Diabetes Day at the senior Lodge, for the staff, where he volunteers. He received a letter from the Mayor of Guelph, offering greetings to Diabetes Champions, Volunteers and Donors, which he will read out. The Mayor acknowledges also the Association for their continued work for people with diabetes. There will be fundraising for the Canadian Diabetes Association, at the Lodge’s Fair. Henry is involved with his church. Gertrude, Henry’s wife is legally blind and requires help from him 24/7. He is my Hero, my Diabetes Champion.”

We are Diabetes Champions for many reasons:
….for our family members who have, or have had diabetes
…for the kids at Camp Banting who so bravely take on the challenge of living with type 1 diabetes
…for our many friends who live with type 1 diabetes
…for our many friends who live with type 2 diabetes
…for all the people we know who have lost loved ones TOO EARLY due to this disease
…for a brighter future without diabetes

Sue Schaefer is a Diabetes Nurse Educator working with the Aboriginal Health Team for the Vancouver Island Health Authority. During her “free time”, her alter ego is Mrs. Pudding – an eccentric, grandmotherly woman who loves to eat, hates to exercise and is initially shocked to learn she has diabetes. Mrs. Pudding doesn’t think it’s fair she has diabetes but gradually learns she has the skills and power to control her illness and improve her health. Sue Schaefer has performed Mrs. Pudding skits in over 50 cities across western Canada. The character has proven particularly effective in First Nations communities, where diabetes rates are high and story telling is a respected teaching tool. Mrs. Pudding makes everyone laugh as she drives home the HEAL (Healthy Eating, Active Living) message. She has recently developed a new skit called “positively stressing out” which helps people with diabetes learn to deal with all the stresses we all face in addition to the ones particular to diabetes. Mrs. Pudding gives the audience a positive way to live with diabetes. Sue is a generous and skilled teacher who is passionate about her message. We are blessed to have Sue on Vancouver Island!

“I am a person that has been living with type 1 diabetes for over thirty years. Chronic illness is, and always will be, an important part of my life. When I first read about the movement to create a United Nations Resolution on Diabetes I knew this was something I wanted to work to support, to do what I could to help make the Resolution a reality. I have always held the work of the United Nations in high esteem. The UN Resolution represents an important way to attract attention to diabetes and for continuing diabetes advocacy against a global epidemic.

In order to do what I can to make the United Nations Resolution on Diabetes a reality, I became directly involved in the grass roots advocacy for this Resolution. I was elated when the landmark United Nations Resolution on Diabetes was passed in December 2006. The United Nations represents hope and possibility for our world and the United Nations Resolution on Diabetes represents hope and possibility for diabetes.

November 14, 2007 was the First United Nations Observed World Diabetes Day. I had the honour of being one of two representatives of the Canadian Diabetes Association at the UN Headquarters for this special day. It was even more special to be there with my family. To commemorate the UN Resolution on Diabetes, I started a Resolution Torch of Diabetes Advocacy at the UN Headquarters. Each year on World Diabetes Day, I add artifacts to the living time capsule and transport the torch to different locations to pass on messages to help evolve diabetes knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Fittingly, one of the first foundation artifacts came from Grant Maltman, Curator, Banting House Canadian National Historic Site.”

“I have been living with type 1 diabetes for more than 35 years. As an active adolescent, I always struggled with low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) during exercise and sports. After completing a bachelors’ degree in Kinesiology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, I began graduate work under the supervision of a pediatric exercise specialist, Dr. Oded Bar-Or, at McMaster University. My thesis work helped establish new guidelines on how to prevent exercise-associated low blood sugar in active children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes. As a post-doctoral student at the University of Toronto in Physiology, I learned more about how stress and exercise influence diabetes control under the supervision of Dr. Mladen Vranic, who is a world renowned scientist studying diabetes metabolism since the late 1950s. Now, as a professor of integrative physiology in the Faculty of Health at York University in Toronto, along with my enthusiastic and gifted graduate students, I continue to study the effects of stress and exercise on both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. We are able to do this though both support and funding from the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Canadian Institute for Health Research. Our studies include animal models of diabetes and humans with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and more recently those with prediabetes. Remembering my own frustrations as a young athlete struggling with diabetes and sports, I recently developed an adolescent type 1 diabetes specialty sports camp where young athletes with diabetes can improve their skills at both diabetes management and their sport of interest (basketball, soccer or tennis). I firmly believe that learning from each other in an experiential setting helps improve diabetes management skills and motivation to be healthy in spite of our diabetes. Although it may seem like every day is surrounded by and about diabetes both personally and professionally, I would not want it any other way. Because of diabetes, I’ve made numerous life long friendships and I feel proud of my accomplishments and contributions in helping those with the disease live longer and healthier lives.”

Due to my husband’s diabetes, I quit my high-tech job in 2001 and worked part time job until 2004 in order to take care of him. Luckily, he has been progressing well, from insulin dependence to a point today where there are no more needles, with his diabetes being controlled by medication, food, and exercise. I’m glad that we will be able to celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary next year. Thanks to the Ottawa Chapter of Eastern Ontario Region of the Canadian Diabetes Association, I have had the opportunity to become better educated about diabetes while volunteering my time to our community. I am grateful for the opportunity to apply my passion and energy to help more people in our community as a volunteer. Knowing that I have been able to help someone to improve their lifestyle is one of the greatest rewards. My hope is that one day, everyone becomes more aware of the seriousness of this disease, and learns that by changing our lifestyle for the better, we can focus on prevention instead.

We are nominating our daughter Sydneigh as a Diabetes Champion. She was diagnosed with type 1, 23 months ago, 1 week prior to Christmas at the age of 6. In this short time she has proven over and over again that nothing is going to stop her. She lives an active full life, including 2 major spots activities, many friends at school, and even sleep overs with her friends. Just weeks after she was diagnosed, she was giving herself her own insulin shots (upon her own doing), in May of this year she went on an insulin pump, that has changed her life, she is more free to do what she wants and just be a kid. She is the one who recognizes her lows and highs and supports us when we feel that a wall has been hit. She has been a true champion in her school , with her friends, her parents, and all others in her life. Letting us all know that diabetes is just a speed bump in life and not a brick wall. She is our hero.

“I am a Diabetes Champion because I have lived with type 1 diabetes for the last 45 years. I was diagnosed at 4 years of age and was told there would be a cure in 5 to 10 years. I’m still waiting. I have erratic blood sugars despite my excellent skills, abilities and knowledge. The duration of such a powerful disease has resulted in many complications.”