My daughter Alexis was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in January of 2010 at the tender age of 5. Life can change so dramatically in the blink of an eye – one day she was a healthy 5yr old and the next day she had a life threatening disease. However, within the matter of one week, she went from a terrified little girl (who had to be held down by 2 people while the third gave her insulin shots while she screamed and kicked) to a brave, accepting very grown up little girl who now self injects, remembers her site rotation, participates in carb counting and dose calculating, knows which type of insulin she needs when and tells me what to do for highs or lows!

Alexis is currently on multiple daily injections, and according to my calculations – between insulin and blood sugar monitoring, is poked approximately 17 times a day…on a “good” day! She never complains or feels sorry for herself. Instead, my little human pin cushion takes it all in stride and has incorporated her Diabetes Regimen seamlessly into her daily activities. She is fiercely proud of who she is – an intelligent and determined little girl who is a karate champion, excels in school, is learning a second language and oh yeah, has Type 1 Diabetes – and she never holds back from telling everyone about it. She spreads awareness every single day of her life and doesn’t even know it! She has accepted Diabetes and all that comes with it in a most courageous and graceful way, it boggles my mind and she definitely makes an impact on anyone who sees her in action. She amazes her school teachers and diabetes care team with her incredible knowledge of Diabetes.

It is Alexis’ strength that gets me through every single day. Talk about role reversal!

When Alexis was first diagnosed, I questioned why my innocent little girl would be inflicted with such a life altering disease. The answer is being revealed to me by Alexis every moment of her life as she tackles the gruelling task of managing her diabetes with such courage and charisma. She is my Diabetes Champion hands down.

My name is Cayden. I was born at 27 weeks and had many health problems. I have had 6 brain surgeries to deal with my Hydrocephalus. I also have lung disease. When I was three I got influenza real bad. Ilost alot of weight and also kept peeing everywhere. My Mom new something was wrong and took me to my pediatrician to get a blood test. I was rushed to the hospital 1 hour later with a blood glucose of 27!. I didnt like all the needles and pokes in my finger but boy did I ever feel better after. I had to stay in the Alberta Childrens Hospital for 8 days. But thats ok. I like it there and I know alot of people there. When I got to come home everyone would tear up when they seen me I didnt understand. Mom said that people just feel bad that I keep getting diseases and that I have to have needles. But Im ok with it causeI know it makes me feel better to have them. Im young but I reconize all my highs and lows. I even wake up at night to tell my Mom I need my Dex tablets!. I was a lucky boy when I came home. i got a wish granted through the Rainbow Society and I was able to have a cool birthday! I even to to eat cake…a big piece too! My Mom is doing alot of research on the Pancreatic islet cell transplant, she says it is hope for the future. Im hoping that I can have a pump in a few years. I see other kids with them, they look cool. Im only 4 and have been diabetic for 8 months now but I dont let it get me down. I know that I need it and my Mom is pretty good with my pens so it doesnt hurt too bad. I go to school and do everything other kids do. I just have my “betes” bag with my special snack that I bring with me. When my friends get mad at school cause I get to eat I just tell them “I have to eat I have diabetes, I will get sick if I dont” They dont understand but my teacher Steve does and he is a great help. My name is Cayden, Im 4. I have a shunt in my brain and take insulin to keep me alive. Please dont pity me or feel sorry for me. I have an amazing life and story. My mom says I will grow to inspire people and give hope as I have already done. I dont know what that means but I like my life. Im a happy boy.

I was first diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 8. Being young and naive I never saw diabetes as a disease but a normal part of life. My parents and I decided to focus my attention towards my passion of playing ice hockey instead of being solely focused on the “disease”. When I was 11 years old I was also diagnosed with Celiac disease. I was fortunate enough for my parents to allow me to deal with my diabetes and celiac all by myself, as for an example no one has ever given me my dose of insulin, except myself. At the age of 15 I received a scholarship to a boarding school across the country for hockey and left my family to live by myself in Ontario. Today I’m a 18 year old teenager whom got a full scholarship to play hockey in Division 1 hockey in the states. My point that I hope to get a crossed is Diabetes is neither a seatbelt nor a disease. It’s an advantage that thousands of people will never understand, in which is the joy of living. The only side effect of diabetes is adversity. Don’t ever looked at as a disease or a restriction; however, a challenge that you can accomplish each and everyday.

I have known Glenna, who works at the Kelowna CDA office , for many years. A busy employee , who appreciates what people with diabetes have to endure , to stay healthy 24/7 . She covers a large area of BC .
My Champion !

Amy , my Champion and Hero : I met Amy in 2000 at a local CDA meeting ; she explained and showed her insulin pump to the audience …for me a time to never look back . I was pumping in 2001 , thanks to Amy ! Fast forward , Amy had a massive heart attack early spring 2011 ; she recouperated and October 9 , 2011 Amy participated with Team Diabetes in her second 10 k run , Kelowna , BC …She and her daughter crossed the finish line upright and smiling 1hour, 17 minutes and 17 seconds later …my Champion with a very supportive daughter …another Champion !

Gordon , my Champion , my Husband since early eighties , when I was diagnosed . Gordon in the mid eighties took on ” the job” for a few years as a Board member of the BC Division of the Association .He has supported me in many different ways , for instance eating healthy meals, in my fund raising efforts from selling raffle tickets to joining me on Team Diabetes events , Summer Surge Birthday parties , driving me to and from the airport for me to attend CDA meetings across our provinces. And he has a great love for animals , we adopt from our local SPCA .

On November 14, 2011, Ivanka Lupenec from the Canadian Diabetes Association joined 30 eager children and staff at a local Vancouver BC childcare centre to celebrate World Diabetes Day. These wide eyed, very attentive children learned about diabetes, the 90th Anniversary of the Discovery of Insulin in Canada, and what they will do to bring diabetes awareness to their families and in their community. They are young diabetes champions who will spread the word and make a difference!

Langara College Nursing students Vanessa and Alanna created this “90th Anniversary of the Discovery of Insulin” signature board to celebrate World Diabetes Day 2011. At local Canadian Diabetes Association events in Vancouver, BC, individuals were invited to unite with the community to celebrate this great Canadian Discovery.

My daughter was diagnosed at 5 years old (she is now 28) and I can say that diabetes never held her back. There are many things that stand out for me looking back, from trading her haloween candy with her grandfather, to that same granfather buying her a pony to make life with diabetes easier, but a few things really stand out. As we all know people don’t understand or know much about diabetes so when Kristy was in school she used it as an opportunity to show people what diabetes is and what her daily routine was. Every year we would ask the teacher if Kristy could talk about diabetes to her class, and every year Kristy brought in her favorite stuffed dog and went through everything from finger poking to giving that poor stuffed dog a needle. When she would have to poke her finger she would let the kids “push the button” and she made her situation inclusive. I would like to think that more people know about diabetes because of my daughter. Kristy rode and showed horses up until this past April, when she sold her horse to pursue a career in policing. Although she isn’t an officer yet I see and here about her training every day and I know that diabetes will not stop her. Aside from the training, she also rows with a local club for fun and competiton. I know that her diabetes also gives her something in common with her theraputic riding students (yes she does that too!) Although many of her students have different challenges in their lives I think it helps knowing that their instructor also has challenges. They have seen Kristy have to go “check her sugar” or teaching while drinking a juice box because her sugars were to low. My daughter is a champion because her diabetes never stopped her but more impotantly because she has used it to educate and to find a common bond with other kids.

It has been almost 30 years since I was first diagnosed with type one diabetes. I was seventeen years old at the time and quite a rebel. I couldn’t accept that I would have to inject myself with a foreign substance in order to stay alive. And whatsmore, being told what I can and cannot eat and when to eat.
I left home at an early age and had to deal with or manage my diabetes all by myself. I never told anyone about my illness unless it was absolutely necessary, (hypoglycemia). I never wanted to be different from anybody else, but I was. Diabetes never stopped me from doing anything I wanted and I lived my life according to my whims and wishes.

Then one day I decided to travel and people told me, “you can’t travel to South America! You are diabetic!” However, I went anyways, and I lived in South America for 10 years.
Even though I have been diabetic for 29 years and even though my kidneys are failing and even though I have periphreal neuropathy and gastro perisis, thanks to diabetes, I do not regret anything about my life and I am happy with the decisions I made.
I am looking forward to the future because I am now on a waiting list for a PK Transplant, (Pancreas-Kidney), I will have a second chance at life, free of insulin and diet and daily blood tests.
I believe the real future of diabetes treatment lies in the future development of Nano medicine.

Thank you for giving me the chance to tell my story.