“My oldest son was diagnosed last week at the age of 9 with type 1. I never knew strength until sitting in the hospital watching him take in his new life. He was confident and positive and reassured us everything was going to be okay. That it wasn’t a disease it was something else that made him unique and special. People kept asking me if I was devastated which of course I was at first. But how can you be devastated when the person it is affecting most is positive and calm. Our new family mantra is “things could always be worse”. I think those are wonderful words to live by!”

Dr. Paul Fernyhough has demonstrated that treatment with an anti-inflammatory medication helps repair damaged nerve endings in the skin of rats. Nerve disease severely affects the quality of life of many people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. In diabetes-related nerve disease, nerve endings die, leading to loss of sensation, pain, poor wound healing, ulceration and, in many cases, lower limb amputation. Currently, there is no effective treatment. It is believed that high levels of blood glucose and/or low levels of insulin cause inflammation that ultimately leads to the destruction of the nerve endings. Dr. Fernyhough’s research may lead to the use of anti-inflammatory medications for nerve disease in humans in the near future.

Dr. Brian B. Rodrigues has developed and tested a novel heart-specific drug delivery system that could help protect people with diabetes from heart disease. Dr. Rodrigues demonstrated that when a drug is attached to very small magnetic beads, the drug will localize specifically to the heart when a magnet is placed directly above it. These results show great promise for the development of a new way to deliver drugs to specific places in the body where the drug is most needed, such as the heart or kidney.

Dr. Ron Sigal has found that aerobic exercise (e.g. walking, cycling or jogging) and resistance exercise (i.e., weight training) were each effective in improving blood glucose control in type 2 diabetes, but the combination of both types of exercise was at least twice as effective as either type of exercise alone. The DARE (Diabetes Aerobic and Resistance Exercise) trial has provided the strongest evidence available for the value of both aerobic and resistance exercise for most people with diabetes. The DARE trial and other smaller trials have led to changes in clinical practice guidelines regarding physical activity/exercise from both the Canadian and the American Diabetes Associations. The guidelines now recommend both aerobic and resistance exercise for most people with diabetes, and provide specific recommendations regarding type, intensity and quantity of exercise.

My daughter Charlotte is definitely a Diabetes Champion! Charlotte was diagnosed at 18 months and celebrated her 6th birthday in August. She has been on the pump for 2 1/2 years now. The reason I think she is a Champion is because she is so willing to share her story with others. She shows her pump for sharing at school, she explains how it works, and even lets her friends watch her do her site change. She also tests her own blood sugar, enters her own boluses and also is learning to calculate how many carbs she has in a meal. When she has met new kids with diabetes she is so reassuring to them and is never negative about having diabetes. She says she wants to be a “diabetes doctor” when she grows up!

“Vicky Leung, a person with type 2 diabetes, is a true Diabetes Champion. Upon diagnosis over 10 years ago, instead of feeling discouraged, Vicky actively sought help and information through many resources, one being from the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA). After discovering the CDA in 1999, Vicky began her volunteer career with the Association’s Chinese services. She has dedicated hundreds of hours throughout her 10 years volunteering with CDA, contributing towards the Pacific Area Chinese Diabetes Information and Support Centre (DISC), at various outreach and community events delivering learning series presentations, and participating in public expos and educational forums. As a senior, experienced volunteer, she provides continuous support and feedback toward the ongoing operation of the DISC and its development of volunteers. Vicky plays an important role for customers who face barriers to our health care system because of language and cultural differences, providing guidance in an informed and empathic manner that reflects her wisdom, life experience, and newly gained knowledge which she continues to upgrade regularly. Vicky also volunteers with other health organizations in order to develop a more well-rounded knowledge about the body and mind to enhance her competence and volunteer experience with the Canadian Diabetes Association. Her volunteer experience with a senior peer counseling program also assists newly diagnosed people with diabetes feel her warmth and commitment. Vicky truly believes in helping others and not expecting anything in return. She strives to educate herself in order to share her knowledge with others through her work as a dedicated volunteer, and towards bringing hope to those with diabetes. Vicky does make a difference in many people’s lives and is a true Diabetes Champion.”

Kent is a doting, loving father of a young daughter with diabetes. From the moment she was diagnosed as a baby, Kent has become an advocate for all with diabetes. He has not only educated family and friends about this disease, but because he is a teacher, his students as well. Annually, he organizes very successful fundraising initiatives for Juvenile Diabetes. He is passionate about funding those who are close to finding a cure for this life-altering disease.

“I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was eighteen years old, only 7 months ago. After being diagnosed I knew that there was a reason why I got this disease. From that day, March 13th I have not given up and will never give up. I work hard to make sure people are aware of this disease that touches so many people whether they are diabetic or not. I started a blog as soon as I left the hospital to document what it is like to live with diabetes since the hospitals and nurses only really let me know the medical side of diabetes. http://kaylaslifenotes.blogspot.com/ I will never let diabetes slow me down, I will only let it bring me to my dreams and remind me that I am strong.”

David, borne 1963, passed away October 2009. Living with diabetes, since 1967 and blind since 1984. I met David in the Legislature, Victoria, BC, while we were participating with the Canadian Diabetes Association and a contingint of advocates in 2007 to advocate for all people living with diabetes. He educated himself about the disease as well as he could, was fluent with the use of the computer. He and I were in contact several times via email until summer 2009. Friday, October 9, 2009 I read his obituary in the paper. David was my Champion and an independent soul. Bless you David and forgive me, for not staying in touch.

“My name is Cassandra Smith. I am a Diabetes Champion because ever since I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 5 1/2 years ago at the age of 5, I have been raising money to help find a cure for diabetes and raising awareness about diabetes. I have been going on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation “Walk to Cure Diabetes.” I worked with my mom to create three children’s books about diabetes and did the illustrations. We sell these books and donate a portion of the sales to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I help set up fundraisers at my school and I am a youth ambassador with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I have also done a number of interviews.”