My beautiful sister has had type 1 diabetes since the age of 6. Now 45, she got it at a time when syringes and scare tactics about never touching sugar were the norm and blood monitoring was approximate. I remember going to the hospital when she was in a coma at the very beginning and watching her practice injections on an orange. She had lots of little lumps on her body from all the injections and regularly woke up screaming with nightmares from bad blood sugars throughout her early childhood. While I was always sympathetic, I couldn’t really appreciate how it actually felt. Now that I too have type 1, the physical toll is all too clear. Worse perhaps though, is the mental burden of constant self-monitoring and the complex balancing act of maintaining control. Imagining anew what it must have been like for a little girl of six using what now seem like prehistoric tools to take all this on is what makes me put her forward as a champion; that and the fact that she is always investigating better ways to manage her health. After years of erratic sugar levels that had turned her into a “brittle” diabetic, she is now on the pump and enjoying more health stability than ever before. I champion her courage, perseverance, hopeful energy, and all the great things she has accomplished despite dealing with this difficult disease for most of her life.

I developed diabetes at the age of 4 back in 1980. It was so uncommon for children at that time that it took our family doctor a ridiculous amount of time to diagnose. My parents feared I would never have a normal life. But…I am now 35 years old, I have two wonderful children (who are diabetes free!!!), a full time job, and have NO negative health problems stemming from diabetes! I am a champion because life with diabetes is tough…and I’ve made it this far!

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during my first pregnancy. In order to protect my unborn child, then my growing child and now myself, I made a life long commitment to good nutrition and excercise. I feel strongly that parents are the best role models for their children so I have lived the “talk”. I enjoy walking with coworkers at lunch, walking the dog with my husband nightly and trying new activities with our children on weekends: kyaking, spelunking, hiking, camping, skiing, fitness classes & sports; you name it we’ve tried (and loved) it. Healthly living is the best form of prevention. And its fun too!

Diagnosed at the tender young age of 4, Simon (now 5) has made great strides in the past year. He has learned how to do his own test, read the numbers (with a little bit of help), and is becoming aware of his ‘highs’ and ‘lows’. As he no longer has a nurse coming into the school to help him, Simon is more responsible for himself.
That is a lot to ask of a 5 year old. He is a champion!

Emma was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 10-months old. She is now 2 1/2. Diabetes is the least interesting thing about Emma and that is why she is my champion!

The beautiful little girl in the photo is Brittney. Brittney was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes on January 31st, 2005, just 2 days before her 11th birthday. As we all sat and watched Brittney eating her little sliver of birthday cake while her friends indulged on a plate full of cake and ice cream, we realized just how much this news would change her life as we all knew it.
Brittney went through her diabetes training with the magnificent staff at the Stollery Hospital in Edmonton. During her time there, not once did she ask why this had to happened to her, or complain about getting her insulin injections. Coming from a girl who was terrified of needles prior to this, to a girl who now gets 3 needles a day, plus the countless number of finger pokes, is pretty significant. In addition to her diabetes, Brittney was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in March 2006. Being the picky eater that she is, this new diagnosis looked like it might be a bit challenging. But Brittney took this news in stride. She is now eating new foods that she would have avoided a few months ago because they taste “funny”, and is proficient in reading all of her food labels for carbohydrates and ingredients that she has to avoid.
I asked Brittney one day if she missed being able to go to the store with her cousin, and pick out a treat like she use to. She shrugged and said, “Not really”. This brought tears to my eyes as I realized just how strong and resilient this little girl is.
This is Brittney’s story. She is truly an inspiration to us. We are amazed by the wealth of knowledge that she has about diabetes and Celiac Disease and how quickly she has had to grow up. But most of all, her bravery.
She is our little “Diabrittic” hero.

On August 14, 2010, 72-year-old Ontario grandfather and Guelph resident, Charlie Barnes delivered on a very important promise, as a member of the Cyclebetes National Cycling Team… to help find a cure for his 15-year-old grandson, Geoffrey Barnes.

“In my lifetime I will do everything in my power to help find a cure…. that’s my promise to Geoffrey. I hope I am an inspiration to Geoffrey and others to get fit mentally and physically and try to make a difference in this world.” says Charlie. In the last 8 years, Charlie has raised more than $80,000 for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) by cycling, running and competing in triathlons. Not only is Barnes participating in the relay, but he is also the charismatic and dogged Cyclebetes Ontario Team Captain. He and other members of the team will be riding ‘Dia-Betsy’ the Cyclebetes tandem bike symbolizing that great things are accomplished in ‘tandem’ with others.

Charlie cycled, relay style from the kick off in Halifax on August 14, 2010 through the Maritimes and Quebec and then across his home province of Ontario a total distance of 1500 kms. For the Ontario leg (August 21 – 26) his cycling partner will be none other than his grandson Geoffrey a grade 10 student at John F. Ross CVI. It’s no surprise that Charlie and Geoffrey share an extraordinary bond. Charlie is not only the inspiration, mentor and model he hoped to be to his grandson, but to everyone he meets! Vital, active and purpose-driven with the zeal of a young person describes Barnes to a tee. It’s this energy that has challenged hundreds of others to get moving and on the road to a healthy, active lifestyle. Charlie will be easy to spot – he’ll be out in front, leading the charge!