I am a Diabetes Champion because…

My enthusiasm for an active, healthy lifestyle fuels my passion for research. I am a strong advocate for active living, and am frustrated that physical and psychological barriers to exercise exist for individuals with type 1 diabetes. I have been performing exercise-related research with type 1 diabetic individuals for the past three years in order to fill some of the void in the existing literature. The hope is that my research will one day assist in the development of safe and effective exercise prescriptions for those with type 1 diabetes. In the meantime, I will continue to lead by example among my peers, by keeping fit, staying active and eating well. I also hope to follow up my fundraising and race experiences with Team Diabetes in 2008 and my volunteer work with Team Diabetes in 2009 with additional challenges in 2010.

One of the first things that Jason thought when he was first diagnosed was that he would not be able to do all the things that he loves. Not true. He can, he will and he does all those very things. Jason understands that diabetes is just part of who he is – not what defines him. That’s why raising money by playing golf just made sense to him. Jason also believes as we do, that he, like so many other children and teenagers like him are the new face of diabetes today. Healthy, strong and ready to tackle the world!

Nissim Oshadi
Why I am a Diabetes Champion.

Over 30 years ago I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Instead of looking at it as a “sickness” or an “illness,” I took the diagnosis as an opportunity to change my way of life for the better. And I have found that it’s not that hard! Along with medication, I watch my diet (lots of healthy vegetables and avoiding white bread etc.) and walk as much as I can for exercise. This has kept my health in good check for over 3 decades – and given me loads of energy to enjoy my life.

You should also know I am passionate about chocolate! So passionate in fact, that during my travels I constantly searched the market for a high quality sugar-free chocolate that would satisfy my sweet tooth. This led to the opening of my shop, Dahso Chocolat et Café in Toronto. It is my greatest pleasure to bring the finest European, no sugar-added chocolate to the Diabetes community. The best news is… most of our customers can’t tell the difference.

I salute my fellow “Champions of Diabetes” and say from my own experience that with a little effort life can be sweet!

I consider myself a diabetes champion because I have lived with type 1 diabetes since I was five years old. I was diagnosed 36 years ago, long before there were home blood glucose monitoring tests; you had to rely on much less accurate urine tests. If you wanted a blood sugar test, you had to go to the hospital to get a fasting blood sugar done. There were no hemoglobin A1C tests, and no one had ever heard of counting carbohydrates. In spite of that, I have not only survived for the last 36 years, but I have thrived.

While I am by no means a perfect diabetic, I have done all I can to take care of my diabetes for the last 36 years, with the support of my family.

Warren Williams is a “man with a mission” and has been a valuable volunteer for the Canadian Diabetes Association for the Canadian Diabetes Association for over 15 years.

He was diagnosed with ytpe 1 diabetse in 1987 and dedicates 100% of his time and efforts to the Canadian Diabetes Association Mission of “Setting the World Standard”, to promote the health of Canadians through diabetes research, education, service and advocacy.

Warren has had many different roles and been awarded many awards for his service over the last fifteen years; Regional Director for BC-Yukon Division, President of BC-Yukon Division, Williams Lake Branch Chair, National Board Director-Council of Regions, Learning Series presenter, Advocacy Ambassador, to just name a few.

Rondeau Brown holds the position of Diabetes Chair, North with District 19D of the Kelowna Mission Lions Club. From the beginning, Rondeau took this role very seriously. He came into the Interior Pacific Regional Office to introduce himself and explain what his role was going to be.

He first thought was of the children and his desire to assist the kids with the money to support the children’s camp. With the help of all the clubs in this region, he has risen over $25,000 every year and hopes to surpass that amount this year. At every opportunity, Rondeau will make all Lions Club members aware of children with diabetes and their need to attend camp. He supports this service and sees the benefits of children attending.

Mr. Brown is an advocate for the Canadian Diabetes Association Children’s Camp program. Every year, the region has approximately 40 children attend camp and they are supported with the help of the dollars raised from the Lions Clubs in District 19D. Every year – many children from the Interior Region attend Camp Kakhamela.

I am speaking on behalf of my team whose dedication well deserves recognition as a Diabetes Champion! As the first diabetes awareness club founded in McMaster University, we have spearheaded many initiatives to raise awareness of challenges associated with diabetes through promotion, advocacy of healthy living, and support students affected by diabetes by providing key information and support. With the help from the coordinators at Canadian Diabetes Association Central South Ontario branch, we were able to start up programs such as the Cellberton Outreach Initiative and recruited over 40 student volunteers for this endeavor. In just a few months, we were able to reach 14 elementary schools in the Hamilton District, so we can help to educate children about diabetes, the lifestyle entailed in managing diabetes or reducing the risk of getting it. With this new program underway, I feel we are making strides against diabetes and leaving a strong positive impact in our community. This year, we are still continuing on with our initiative. Thus, in the spirit of World Diabetes Day, we launched the first Photo Collage Project where we collect pictures and donations from our volunteers and fellow students to arrange them in a “Blue Circle”, the universal symbol for World Diabetes Day. We will display the finished product in the school atrium in order to bring awareness to November 14th.

I think my daughter Erika is a champian bcause she is so strong and determined. She is going to be 14 on nov 29, Erika was diagnosed when she was 10. I remember it like it happened 1 hr ago. Erika was very sick when she was diagnosed but even as her father and I cried for her in fear she told US it was going to be ok! “don’t be sad, it will be ok” she took this disease and claimed it her own. Erika is on the Medtronic insulin pump and uses her sensors and does it well! She has had times where she wanted to be “normal” but has learned she IS normal, and very strong. Erika plays on the school basketball and soccer team and keeps up and never stops. Erika is everthing I wish I could have been as a child. Straight A’s and a go getter. That is why she is my champian.

My brother Liam is a diabetes champion because he doesn’t let his diabetes hold him back from being a top level athlete!

Liam is a running back for the CJFL’s Edmonton Wildcats (#34 in photo). He trains and plays hard at his sport despite living with type 1 diabetes. On Nov 14th, 2009 the Wildcats will be playing in the Canadian Championship game in Nanaimo – fitting that this diabetes champion will be playing in the championship game on WDD!

Liam is a great example of what someone with type 1 can still do despite this disease. We’ll be cheering him on this WDD in Nanaimo. Go Cats Go!!!

“I was asked by our Regional Canadian Diabetes Association office to write myself up as a Diabetes Champion. So I’ll start with a disclaimer -I don’t claim to be a champion. I do what I do for diabetes research and programs because both my daughter Kate and my niece Leah have type 1 diabetes. Kate was diagnosed 16 years ago at the age of 7, and that was enough for me to decide to do something about diabetes – I just didn’t know what I could do. Then I saw some PR for Team Diabetes Canada, and ended up running Amsterdam in 2001. Next, we founded a Speakers Bureau here in eastern Ontario, and I was one of the trainers. That led to getting involved in advocacy at the provincial level, and eventually MC’ing several advocacy conferences across Canada. Hey, I’ve even begged for bottles at the local beer store! The real champions are my daughter and my niece – I just do what I can to support them and the millions of Canadians whose lives are in some way touched by diabetes.”