we are submitting our daughter Sydneigh. She inspries us each and every day. She was diagnosed just about 4 yrs ago at the age of 6 and since then has embrached each and every day and the changes that diabetes has brought toher. This past year she was a Youth Ambasator for JDRF where she went out and told her story and what it means to her today and finding a cure tomorrow. At school, play or where ever she is not afraid to talk about and teach people what they need to know. OUr daughter is our light and and makes us work hard at being better parents each and every day.

Paige was diagnosed 7years ago and has never let it stop her from doing anything. She woke up in the hospital and said “I’m not sick, I just have diabetes”.

She has been Athlete of the Year at her school for 3 years in a row, she has attended many camps some diabetic camps others just normal camps. She is active in school, air cadets, and extra cirricular activities.

Paige has been a leader in training for the Diabetes Association for the last 3 years and has been a counsellor at family camp held in Watrous, SK for the last 4 years.

In April, 2010 Paige received the Youth Volunteer of the Year Award from the Canadian Diabetes Association in Saskatchewan.

Paige is an independent and confident girl, she willing speaks to anyone interested in her condition and is not afraid or embarrassed to let anyone know she has diabetes.

I am proud to call Paige my daugher.

I nominate my 14 year old son Trevor. Trevor was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 4 days before Christmas 2005 at the age of 8.

I was always proud of my child as any mother can be, but I never realized his strength, maturity at early age and his positive attitude till that day….the minute we found out and were checked into the ER our world changed. I felt like the walls were closing in on me, but not him….not my son.

He never complained about the needles, he wanted to learn everything about his disease and taking care of himself. I never saw him cry the first week in the hospital. He was strong and he was the one who was there for me. If it wasn’t for Trevor and his attitude I don’t know how we would survive the first months after his diagnoses.

My strong 8 year old boy left the hospital doing his own insulin shots and checking his on BG.

On December 23rd we were given few hours pass to do some shopping and see if he feels comfortable to be discharged. Instead of asking for Christmas presents Trevor asked me to buy toys and games for sick children so he can put them under the Christmas tree at the Pediatrics. I was so proud.

Trevor was discharged on Christmas morning 2005. Ever since then he had many ups and down. He had to deal with bullying due to diabetes. He stop getting invitations to birthday parties and sleepovers. He was penalized by our local minor hockey he played for, he was dragged across the school by a teacher after he went unconscious.

Despite it all Trevor grew up to be a strong and self- confident teenager with Type 1 diabetes. He is going through a rebellious streak right now, but he tries very hard to do what he can with what he was given.

I am nominating my son today, because I want him to know how proud I am of him….how proud we all are of him and that he is truly my hero and my rock.

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 6, I am now 21. I have struggled with living with diabetes as a teenager, but have overcome that phase, and have realized that diabetes is a part of me, a part of who I am. My family and friends are amazing supporters, and I thank them for being there for me over the past 15 years of living with diabetes!!

I am a 34 years old and have lived with Type 1 Diabetes for 30 years. I am a Mom to 2 young boys, ages 7 and 2. My 7 year old, Tayten, is also Diabetic and was diagnosed at the age of 2. I have made it 30 years without any complications due to the strict management of my Diabetes. I am an avid runner and Triathlete. I maintain awesome blood sugar levels during my training and race days and this is because I CHOOSE to be in control and not let Diabetes control me. I set an example for my son to show himm that Diabetes should not get in the way of accomplishing your dreams and never let someone tell you “you can’t” because of your Diabetes. My motto: “Let Diabetes propel you forward, not hold you back”. He will be completing his first Triathlon in the summer of 2012 with other Diabetics from Insulin Dependence. He can’t wait to don the “Triabetes” singlet. As I was tucking him into bed one night, this past summer, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said “Mommy, I want to be just like you. You run fast, you bike hard and you swim…oh and you have the best blood sugars.” My eyes filled with tears but my heart filled with joy that I have sent the best message of all to him. Diabetes is great thing, and not a negative thing as so many think. I have educated him his whole Diabetic life on understanding and listening to his body. It will tell you how you feel if you listen to it. By the age of 6 he was already doing his pump on his own, at direction from myself, and has a high level of understanding of carbs, proteins and how they affect your blood sugars. I feel proud to be his Mom.
I have spent my whole life being an active and responsible Diabetic. I strive for great control but also remember that “I am not a pancreas, nor will I ever be, but I will do my best to be that close to one. But, I may make mistakes.”

I recently ran in a 200 mile marathon relay with 11 other Diabetics, from Blaine, WA to Whidbey Island, WA, this summer. It was so inspiring and one of the most amazing experiences to be surrounded by other Diabetics who feel the same and understand the lingo. Such a great opportunity to meet others who share the same philosophy towards Diabetes Management.
I love the opportunity to interact with Diabetics around me and I am complimented when people tell me how I have enriched their knowledge or inpired them.
I feel extremely proud to have made it 30 years, healthy and positive with Diabetes. I am proud to say “I am a Diabetic”. It is who I am and what I am about.

Tayten is my Diabetes Champion. He is 7 years old and has been living with Diabetes since the age of 2. He has a great attitude with it, he never gets “down” with having to test or administer his pump. He calls us “2 peas in a pod” as I am also, Type 1 Diabetic. He has educated so many kids, teachers and friends about living with Diabetes. It is great to see such a positive perspective on Diabetes and I believe that has stemmed from the education we have provided him with from an early age. Tayten will be completing in his first kids Triathlon in the summer of 2012 with other Diabetics. He is so excited to don the “Triabetes” singlet. Tayten! You inspire me and you are my Diabetes Champion!

Staff dressed in blue to draw awareness to World Diabetes Day

I should be dead, not once but twice I had a brush with death. I had a Hypo to the point of having a seizure. Once should be enough to scare someone straight – but no I ignored it. A month later it happened again. That’s when I realized that if I did not get my diabetes and my life under control I would not live to see that Christmas. In January 2004 I changed. It took a split second to realize that I wanted to live and in order to do that I needed to get healthy.

Over the past few years since that scary day I have run 4 marathons, 5 or 6 triathlons, I lost 25 pounds and have had the biggest adventures and best life. Once I made a simple change of eating better other things started to change, I started exercising and once I started improving my life I realized I had to quit the horrible job I was working in. I went back to school to fulfil my dream of getting my art degree. Not only did I do that but I went on to get my Masters and then moved to Australia to do my PhD. While there I met my soul mate – we got married this July.

If I had died I would have missed the most fantastic life. It only started after I decided to change. I realized that finishing a marathon is so much better than cheese cake, losing weight is much better than sitting on the couch watching TV, travelling is more exciting that living at home watching others do it.

Dreams do come true – but you have to get off the couch to get them.

Amy Zurrer
Type 1 diabetic – diagnosed 1983 – age 5

Hanna was diagnosed a week before her 6th birthday. Her life had quickly turned from carefree Sunday ice cream desserts to needles, blood tests and multiple daily finger pokes. After 5 months of living with this, I overheard her asking her older sister if she would still be happy if she had diabetes…Her sister promptly answered `no`…
A few days later (and obviously after a lot of reflecting on the issue) Hanna told me that although she has diabetes, she is still happy because she has her family…
She is and will always be my hero.

The Hope Lions Club draws awareness to World Diabetes Day by wearing blue every year.