John Chick, is a Diabetes Champion because not only is he a great athlete and inspiration for young people with diabetes, he was just named CFL’s most outstanding defensive player of the year! During the regular season Chick recorded 11 sacks and forced four fumbles as a lineman with the Saskatchewan RoughRiders. Watch his game when he plays for the RR in the Grey Cup! Chick was diagnosed at the age of 14 and has to monitor his blood-sugar levels at all times. Congratulations John!

My Mom, who passed away 1997, is a Diabetes Champion. In 1961 she was told her 8 year old daughter was diabetic, and probably would not live more than 3 years. Her only training in the care of a diabetic child was two weeks of daily visits to the children’s hospital in Halifax to visit me and learn about blood sugars, nutrition and the giving of a needle. The advancements made since 1961 are nothing short of incredible. I am now on the insulin pump and wish she could have lived to see how far we have come. Thank You Mom for all the devoted care and determination in seeing me beat the odds of being a juvenile diabetic in 1961.

Sheldon has been a volunteer for over 25 years. He is always willing to lend a helping hand as a Canvasser and in the past a Captain for our annual fall campaign. Sheldon for the past 5 years organizes an event in his community to raise dollars for the Association. Sheldon stresses the importance of taking care of yourself if you are living with diabetes and he values the support he receives from the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Prov. Diabetes Educators.

George is a wonderful volunteer. He his always willing to lend a helping hand at a Health Fair and has been involved with the Cavalcade for Diabetes for many years. George was the Lions Liaison on PEI and has organized for the past 3 years a barbecue at our Children’s Summer Diabetes Camp. George is a volunteer you ALWAYS can count on.

I’m not sure if I qualify as a champion, but I live with type 1 diabetes and bipolar disorder. I make do on a small disability pension that frequently makes it difficult to pay my bills, maintain safe housing and buy groceries. Having type 1 diabetes and living in poverty creates incredible ongoing challenges that occasionally seem insurmountable. I think that it’s crucial for us all to remember that diabetes rarely exists on its own and that other pre-existing conditions often make living with diabetes extraordinarily difficult. I’m happy to say, however, that I have friends, family and the Canadian Diabetes Association to turn to when the going gets rough. Thanks to all of you for your assistance.

Marilyn McInnes is a clinical nurse specialist in Diabetes. She worked in diabetes care at Hamilton Health sciences for 20 years. During this time, she designed and taught a course on diabetes care for nurses at Mohawk college. She wrote a hand book for health professionals to use when teaching patients about diabetes. She designed a tool to help doctors to adjust insulin. She has taught nurses, physicians and other health care team members about diabetes. She became a member of the editorial board of the Diabetes Communicator. She has written many articles, on diabetes care. She has presented at international conferences about diabetes. She has touched the lives of thousands of patients with diabetes. Marilyn retired from Hamilton Health Sciences last year however she continues to work with a family physician in Hamilton to provide a diabetes clinic on a monthly basis. She also continues to present current research about diabetes at conferences and speaking engagements. She is a true Diabetes Champion.

She works very hard to teach Aboriginal people about their risks of diabetes and how to manage a diabetes diagnosis on a daily basis. She is passionate about educating everyone who approaches her. She is patient and understanding in each person’s personal choices for self-management. She and her education partner organized a diabetes educator workshop in remote NW Ont that was enthusiastically received by >30 participants from several communities. When asked to participate in World Diabetes Day events, she did not hesitate to volunteer. Her concern for diabetes care goes outside her scope of practice and into the communities she serves even “off the job.”

Michelle enthusiastically provides diabetes education to our local remote Aboriginal community in NW Ont. She is a patient teacher with a wealth of knowledge to help others acquire skills with food choices and preparation to successfully make self-management choices to succeed in nutritional management of diabetes. She and her diabetes education partner organized a diabetes educator training session for >20 participants from many communities in NWO. She selflessly volunteered to providing screening to many people on World Diabetes Day and offered follow up for those in need of resources. She goes beyond the expectations of her “job” and gives back to our community.

Dell Pharmacy in Smilthville has gone above and beyond this November spreading the word about World Diabetes day by selling and posting close to 500 blue circles. As demonstrated in the photo the effect of all the circles on there back wall is really awesome.
The effort was spearheaded by Leianne Grant, the Pharmacist Manager and Patty McCready, a dispensary assistant. Patty’s incredible story does not end here. In the New Year she will be donating a kidney to her father.
A heartfelt thanks to all the staff whose continued support extends the associations reach to so many in the town.

Simpson’s Pharmacy goes all out for Diabetes Month!

Staff at Simpson’s Pharmacy in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario decorated their store with diabetes displays of CDA literature, diabetes supplies and sugar-free snacks. Employees brought in bags of clothing to donate to Clothesline.

Thanks to Ward, Sean and Lisa Simpson for hosting the Blue Circle campaign. Thanks to Catherine, Elly, Edie, Maggie, Helen, Diane, Shauna, Hedy, Kim, Chrissie, Trudy, Wilma, Jim, Rick, Sandy and Pat for your support of the Canadian Diabetes Association!