William Ho and his mother are Diabetes Champions…For fifteen years, William Ho, a local TV personality watched his mother live with diabetes. The onset was later in life- very typical of type 2 diabetes in the Chinese population. At first, diabetes did not really change her life, and with the support of her loving family she was able to manage the disease and still live a full life. However, about 5 years ago when William was busy organizing a concert to celebrate his 25 years in show business, his mother’s diabetes worsened and she ended up in the hospital emergency.

William loves his mother dearly. He was prepared to cancel the performance right away to take care of his mother. Luckily his mother’s situation improved and she was able to live happily for another few years, despite of the fact that she was receiving kidney dialysis in her last few months.

“In the last few years of my mother’s life, I was taking care of her. She enjoyed my cooking, and I always cooked her healthy tasty meals, and helped her make healthy choices when eating out,” said William. William was also the one driving his mother to the hospital or to other activities until she passed away peacefully.

“So when I look back I have no regret. I’ve done my best to take care of my mom,” said William. “Diabetes is serious. I will urge everyone to learn everything about diabetes, either to prevent it or to manage it. Throughout all the present research projects, I hope that a cure will be found one day.”

I am a Diabetes Champion at the Upper River Valley Hospital in New Brunswick because I work everyday as a Diabetes Nurse Educator with patients who are living with Diabetes.

My champion and example is my grandmother Hilda Woodward who was diagnosed with Diabetes as a young woman when treatment was not as advanced as it is today. She developed many complications from Diabetes including bilateral below the knee amputaions. She loved life and lived everyday as a Champion for her family and myself as her eldest granddaughter. I am a nurse today because of my time as a teenager that I spent looking after my grandmother.I am a Diabetes Nurse Educator today because of the heartfelt desire I have to educate and make a difference in my patients and fellow staff around me as we try to change the face of Diabetes on a day to day basis. I want to assist my patients to early gain better gylcemic control so that the chance of complications is lessoned for them in honor of my Diabetes Champion -my grandmother. She passed away in 1980 just before my high school graduation and there is not a day I do not remember this remarkable woman.

In October I had the opportunity to attend the 20th World Congress- International Diabetes Federation in Montreal Quebec. There was 623 participants and I was the first overall walker to cross the finish line and the only winner from my province of New Brunswick. I was proud to walk in memory of my grandmother and in honor of my patients in New Brunswick who have taught me many lessons about Diabetes. They are the real educators and each one a Diabetes Champion.

I was diagnosed having diabetes back in 1988 through a routine check up. Having none of the symptoms, I was quite surprised. The prescription back then was to loose weight and to take lessons from a nurse and a dietitian at the hospital. In the classes, I learned about how to control the disease with diet, exercise and medicine. In spite of my efforts, my diabetes control was still erratic and mostly on the bad side of the target line. Experiencing the difficulties first hand, I wanted to learn more about the disease and to help others to learn as well. When the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) opened its branch in Nanaimo, I began to attend events and started to volunteer with them. Most of my volunteering involved selling raffle tickets in malls around the city. Since I moved to Richmond in 2005, I joined the CDA as a volunteer in their Chinese Info Line program. It’s a phone-in program for Chinese speaking people all over North America wanting to know about diabetes. We provide them with verbal and written information in Chinese about diabetes. We also listen carefully about how their diabetes is affecting their lives and refer them to different agencies for additional assistance. I also participated in other CDA activities, such as data entry, health fair display, presentation in the community, Diabetes Expos, etc. With knowledge gained from and participation with the CDA, I was able to maintain my control over a 21-year span. I am sure other people can as well. The CDA is an excellent place to find such knowledge.

I am a diabetes champion because I raised almost $8,000 for the Diabetes Summer Surge. On the occasion of my 50th birthday, I decided to do an Ironman triathlon and raise money for the Canadian Diabetes Association. I called my project Rob’s 50 IM for DM (Ironman for Diabetes Mellitus). I was inspired to raise money by my son Patrick who has type 1 diabetes and has raised $1,600 for diabetes through his participation in the Sudbury Rocks Half Marathon. I completed the Madison, Wisconsin Ironman in September 2009.

Zachary is a Diabetes Champion because having just turned 3 and only been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes for less than 2 months he’s been an absolute trooper. He’s adjusted really well. He is now doing his own finger pokes and loves to get his glucometer and needles ready himself. His sister Sarah is also a champion. She looks out for her brother and loves to help and be his nurse. We are blessed to have such a great family and this has been another opportunity to work together as a team.

A month after moving back home to Canada after living in Hawaii, my 14 year old son, Connor, was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes. Not only did he just start at a new school where he didn’t know anyone, he was the only student in the school with the disease. He could have let this affect him greatly however, his outlook has been unbelievably positive. On Connor’s second day in the hospital a wonderful coincidence occured as he was visited by Scott Duntan, a National Recognized surfing sensation from Hawaii who travels the world spreading hope for kids recently diagnosed. Scott wrote an article about his visit and my son has helped spread the word ever since.

Connor says it was a good thing he came down with Diabetes because it has taught him the value of healthy eating and he actually feels better than he ever has due to his new healthier lifestyle and eating habits.

Even after Connors goals of joining the Canadian Armed Forces were crushed due to his diagnosis, he remains positive and has redirected his focus to other similar careers with the RCMP or National Guard.

Most people in Canada would know the name Tie Domi from his days of being with the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. Most people would know Christine Hough-Sweeney as champion figure skater who won six medals at the Canadian Nationals including a gold in 1998. I know a different Tie Domi & Christine Hough-Sweeney.

A few months ago, Tie’s office asked me to suggest a charity that Tie & Christine could contribute to for their preformance on Battle of the Blades. They were very specific that this be a Diabetes Charity. My suggestion was that they donate to the Diabetes Hope Foundation. The Diabetes Hope Foundation provides scholarships and awards to teenagers who have Diabetes to further their education and other relevant activities. The money that Tie & Christine contibuted to the Diabetes Hope Foundation will be set up as a scolarship fund. I think Tie Domi is a Diabetes Champion.

Leanne is one of the fastest women on the water in Canada in an outrigger canoe. Where ever she travels for her racing and training she promotes awareness and understanding of Type 1 Diabetes. It’s hard not to notice her pink pump hanging proudly off her shorts.
Leanne enjoys connecting and speaking with people interested in healthy active lifestyles and fine tuning their insulin requirements for a wide range of physical activities. She feels that she learns something new from every other person with Type 1 that she meets.

Leanne is a Diabetes Champion because she uses her paddling to promote awareness and understanding that people with Diabetes just have to adjust their insulin to their life, they don’t have to adjust their life to their insulin.

In 2009, Leanne was awarded the Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association’s “Athlete of the Year” award.

My Diabetes Champion is Emma, my 18-month old daughter who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes a short 8 months ago. She is a diabetes champion because nothing (including diabetes) slows her down. She never sheds a tear over a finger poke, insulin pump site change, or blood draw at the lab.

Emma is my hero and I am so proud of her.

My Diabetes Champion…Connor was diagnosed 2 years ago. He has never complained, and he gives me the honour of being a part of his ongoing management strategy. My life has a higher purpose: the welfare of my son. Although his mother and I are divorced, we have learned to prioritize Connor’s well being over everything. I am actively working with many reputed diabetes management institutions in developing care solutions. He is my champion.