“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.”

“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.”

“Approximately 30 years ago, I thought I had menopausal madness (like my mother). I started liking ice cubes to such a degree my husband bought me an ice making fridge and I took ice to work, put cubes in my coffee cup and munched all day. I finally confessed this to my gynecologist who said calmly, is there any diabetes in your family? My answer was “yes my father”. Even so I knew little about the disease as it was treated hush hush. Of course the results were that I had type 2 diabetes and yes, I was overweight and living a sedentary life.

I am a proud member of the International Association of Lions Clubs and during one meeting we had a visit from the Branch Coordinator of Brandon CDA, asking if our Lions Club would do a residential campaign of Canadian Forces Base Shilo, villages of Sprucewood, Douglas and the rural homes in between. I was the only female member of our club and, of course the only member living with diabetes so I was elected to chair the campaign. It was very difficult to get men out canvassing door to door. I came up with the idea of having a 2 hour blitz – come in even if your route wasn’t finished. I canvassed my area the night before the blitz and I made supper for the canvassers when they returned. This worked way better than giving them a book, telling them to canvas within a set period of time. For 15 years – this has worked well for us.

I was then invited to join the Lions Cabinet of District 5M13 (approximately half of Manitoba.) I was appointed Diabetes Awareness Chairperson and have held the position with the exception of the year 1999/2000 when I served as the first female District Governor. My special project was Diabetes and I collected money from the Clubs as I visited them. I oversee the Cavalcade for Diabetes which our District hosts each year – it’s a parade hosted in the town of one of our clubs and the sole purpose is to raise money for Camp Briardale.

I have also the honour of serving as the ManitobaNW Ontario Representative on the Lions/CDA National Liaison Committee. Our purpose is to come up with Fund Raising ideas – this year we are promoting a Tag Day on World Diabetes Day.

I write articles in our Lion Newspaper on Diabetes and what’s going on. I don’t want anyone to be in the dark about the disease as I was. My Dad died after having two toes amputated – I feel his ignorance of the disease was the root cause and I am determined to educate the dickens out of my family and anyone else who will listen. I am now 70 and today my doctor told me she is very happy with my A1C – me too!”

“I am a Diabetes Champion because…since being diagnosed 25 years ago, I control my diabetes and refuse to allow it to control me. I have participated in recent research developments in the field of diabetes, as well as volunteering with the Canadian Diabetes Association for 25 years. By choosing a career in pharmacy, as well as running a diabetes network group, I’m given the opportunity to share my experience and knowledge in helping others.”

My husband Johnson was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over 26 years ago. He has suffered many complications as a result of his disease such as multiple eye surgeries, high blood pressure, and kidney failure. As a family we joined Team Diabetes in 2006 so that we could help make a difference in other peoples lives who are diagnosed with diabetes. Not only did we want to raise funds for research and advocacy, but we wanted to help raise awareness about what it means to be diabetic. We were scheduled to run our first marathon in December 2006 in Hawaii, when on September 11 of that year, Johnson’s kidney’s completely failed and he needed to start dialysis. Dialysis was HARD, and each night Johnson needed to hook up to his peritoneal dialysis machine to clean his blood of toxins each night for 9 hours. This was to be our life now, restricted to our home, not much traveling due to his dialysis. Johnson would perform dialysis each night, then get up bright and early and go to work each day. He had a very positive attitude, at least he was alive, and could enjoy his family while he still could. He never missed a day of work. However, Hawaii was a dream for him, one that he wanted so to achieve. Although it would take months of mastering his home dialysis, Hawaii didn’t seem possible. The dream of making it to Hawaii was the one thread that held our little family together during those difficult days. Johnson found a way to make it work. We would ship 720lbs of dialysis equipment to Hawaii ahead of time, and we would still participate in the Hawaii marathon. Crossing the finish line with other Team Diabetes participants was our goal, which we are happy to announce that we met. It was with great pleasure that Johnson was asked to be the guest speaker at the post marathon dinner. After hearing many guest speakers go before him, he started to wonder if the speech he wrote was appropriate. Others spoke of their fundraising efforts, and their training for the marathon, but Johnson spoke from the heart about being diabetic, people’s misconceptions of what that means, he spoke about his low sugars and how they affected his family, he spoke about high blood pressure, and kidney failure as well as his daily life on dialysis. He spoke about how much it meant to him to have made it to Hawaii a dream he always wanted to achieve, and how despite being on dialysis, he and his family proudly crossed the finish line and what an honor it was. It was here during his speech that he made a special announcement, that his wife was considered a match and would be donating one of her kidneys to him in February 2007. After his successful kidney transplant, he and his wife decided to double their fundraising goal that year. Instead of raising $12,000 they would attempt to raise $25,000 for the CDA. After raising $18,000 and almost achieving their fundraising goal, Johnson and his wife became exhausted and tired. They didn’t quite meet their goal, but they had come close enough. That was until later that month Johnson’s second cousin (Baby Aaron) who was just 18 months old at the time, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. This was the inspiration Johnson needed to continue his fundraising campaign. Johnson held a few more events, as well created a YouTube video titled “Johnson’s Journey” where his video documented his fundraising activities, his diabetes, his dialysis as well as his kidney transplant. Johnson is very proud that within a 2 year period he and his wife have raised in excess of $40,000 for the CDA. He achieved his goal of raising awareness with his many television interviews, newspaper articles etc. Johnson was honored with the Regional Inspiration Award presented by the CDA in Ottawa, as well as the National Inspiration Award presented in Vancouver. Johnson is very proud of his achievements and that of his families. He continues to be an inspiration to all of us, to never give up hope, keep raising awareness and encourages others to sign up for the challenge and to join Team Diabetes and become part of an extended family who have the same goals in mind. Help to raise awareness, and funds to bring about a cure for this disease. To raise funds for research and advocacy, and to help make a difference in the lives of others.

Dan Makinson (2nd one on the left) is a diabetes champion. A close friend who has just been diagnosed with diabetes and has accepted the change in lifestyle, but it hasn’t changed his spirit. Dan holds a golf tournament annually and next years golf tournament he plan to raise money for the Canadian Diabetes Asc.

Siobhan has been living with type 1 diabetes since age 7. Her goal is to be a “normal” kid, and she doesn’t let diabetes slow her down! She swims and plays sports at school, goes to camp and hangs out with her friends, just like all kids her age. She also does a great job managing her diabetes with the help of her family. To us, Siobhan is a champion in every sense of the word!

Darius is our son and he is 9 years old.

Just a regular 9 year old — loves video games, reading, arguing with his parents, goofing off and being the best kid that one can have.

Then one day in 2009 he was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes and everything changes forever – the shots, the testing, the stress, the food regimen….

For us, the burden seemed enormous, cruel and unfair. For this kid, just another speed bump in the road of life – no complaints about pricks or whining about food ….simply curiosity, acceptance and a great spirit!

Just a regular 9 year old….one who continues to be who he is and bears this burden lightly – reminding us everyday why he is our hero.

Sandy Kenefick has lived with type 1 diabetes since she was a teenager and has managed it impeccably ever since. While she has just passed her 50th birthday, she has committed herself to being a dominant force against the disease. In the summer of 2003, she hiked the entire Chilkoot trail along the Yukon/Alaska border — a week in the wilderness with nothing but a backpack and extra vials of insulin. The year following, she trained and ran the full 2004 Vancouver Marathon in just over four hours. Since then, she runs constantly, filing away half-marathons, fun-runs and everything in between. This past summer, she hiked the length of the West Coast trail along the north of Vancouver Island. Another week in the wilderness with a backpack and a camera. She manages two successful businesses, raised a daughter, looks after two energetic dogs, eats healthy, smiles often, and is the kindest, most positive person I’ve every known. She also volunteers at any fundraiser for diabetes that presents itself. I often forget she does all of this while juggling the horrors of her disease. (She also makes a wicked butternut squash soup!)