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.
![282-charlie[2]](http://www.worlddiabetes.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/282-charlie2-300x214.jpg "282-charlie[2]")
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!
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Hi! This is me, Sue Sammut. I was diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic in 2000 and placed on oral medication. Now at the time of diagnosis, I was not overweight (I was 125 lbs!) I did not have high cholesterol or high blood pressure. I was doing aerobic classes 3 days a week, and walking almost every night. My doctor told me it was ‘bad luck’ but I say it was bad eating habits! Within 3 years the disease changed. The oral meds were no longer able to break down my sugars and my weight plummeted from 125 lbs to 85 lbs. Diabetes was now eating away at me. I was placed on insulin injections, and tried to gain some sort of stability. But that was when the roller coaster began with lows, then highs rebounding and crashes in the middle of the night. And alas, weight gain. I went from 85 lbs to 150 lbs in one month! I continued to watch my diet eating very few carbs, if any, was doing karate classes 3 days a week and still walking. Within 2 1/2 years of insulin they, being my specialists, took me off of the long acting insulin and placed me on a 24 hour insulin. Changes again but this seemed to be working for the time being. Approximately 2 years into the 24 hour insulin, it was no longer lasting 24 hours, bringing me up to 8 injections a day or more. I was literally taking a needle every time I ate. In 2008, I was re diagnosed as a ‘Late Onset Type 1′ and placed on a medical device known as ‘insulin pump’ which entails an IV dripping insulin 24/7, as my pancreas no longer produces its own. At last, after 9 years of battling weight, mood swing highs and lows, I have stability. I have a life again!!! I continue to watch my diet, but I eat carbs now. I continue to work out 3 days a week and I run 10-20 km a week, not including my 1/2 marathons for Team Diabetes! I feel great Diabetes changed my life, the pump gave me my life back! |
| At 9 years old my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. My family was shocked and frightened about what the road ahead would bring. We didn’t know anything about diabetes and all of a sudden here we were in a hosptial room learning to give injections to our little boy. Jacob was quiet and didn’t say much the first day, and I was so very worried about how he would ever be able to make it through this complete change in his life. Then, one conversation changed things. His words would give me strength and confidence that no matter how hard the road would be, he would be a Champion and make it through. We were up in the night after a nurse had awakened Jake to check his level and he looked at me and said ” You know Mom everything happens for a reason, and sometimes we don’t know that reason is right away.” I teared up and said ” well maybe one day we will understand better.” He looked at me with his big brown eyes and said” No this is different, I do know the reason, I think I got this because I could be one of the guys who finds the cure!” I never looked at my son with pity again, he had bigger plans for this disease, and he planned on taking it as a challenge! We learn so much from our children and I continue to watch Jake everyday and learn about patience, perseverance, strength, empathy, humour and most of all courage!He is my champion, along with every child fighting this often misunderstood battle. |
| I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes back in 1968. I never really thought much about having diabetes – as it’s been with me so long. I don’t know of any other way of living and in a way think it’s made me a better person.Back in Oct 2008 I decided to give insulin pumping a try and since then my life has blossomed into so much more since I started to relearn how to be a diabetic after 40 years of MDI (multiple doseage injections). I am currently a diabetic mentor at Diabetes1.org – helping educate others on diabetes along with many other members in various D-OC (diabetes online community) around our big blue marble. Just look for FatCatAnna and you’ll find me poking my nose into anything to do with diabetes – and helping others learn how to lead a better life. My mug shot was even featured in a prominant d-bloggers (Ninjabetic – George Simmons) video on his celebration of his 20th D-anniversary (something I’ve never thought of doing – but may give it a go – after attending a friends D-anniversary next month – wonder if sugar enriched cake will be be served?). |
Hunter was diagnosed on June 26, 2004 at the age of 7 months. He was in DKA when he was brought to the hospital and spent the next 3 days in ICU. He was then transfered to the pediatric unit where he spent another 4 days. Throughout these days, he was poked and prodded over and over again, but he was a very brave and resilient little baby.
Today Hunter is a happy, healthy 6 year old. He went on the insulin pump at the age of 3, and has been using it ever since. He has learned to check his blood sugar, use the pump correctly inputing BG and carbs all on his own. He has also started carb counting.
I am nominating my son Hunter because of what a brave, resilient and intelligent little boy he has become. I am proud to call him my son
Because at age 4 Jesse was diagnosed with type 1, and thru the highs and lows, he’s been great. Injection after injection he puts on a brave face and takes it like the trooper that he is.
The Bramalea Community Health Centre staff are my champions because….. Not only did they 100% support wearing blue for diabetes day November 2009, but to celebrate diabetes month the staff became PLoWD (person living with diabetes).
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes over 36 years ago. My son was diagnosed 1 year ago Mother’s Day. Having heard many variations on “you should be doing this” or “why aren’t you doing that” I began to think, would you be able to do what you are asking others to do? This then lead to the development of the “Walking in my shoes” experience.
The Medical Office Assistants, Physiotherapist, Social Worker, RNs, N.Ps, Physicians, Community Health Educators, Data Manager, Health Promoter, and Management all had the opportunity to experience the day to day regime from the perspective of someone living with diabetes.
Individuals chose either multiple daily injection (dry injections 4 times a day) or insulin pump (saline was substituted for insulin). They were given training from the Diabetes Team Dietitians and RNs on treatment, management, and nutrition. Some were placed on medication regimes (tic tacs). All were trained on meter testing and requested to test 3-4 times a day minimum. All were given 3-4 envelopes to be opened at specific times. The contents would read “your blood sugar is 2.4mmol/L. Treat with the enclosed dextrose tablets (sweet tarts) and follow the instructions on “treatment of a low blood sugar”. Everyone found it to be an invaluable experience. All reported how challenging it was.
I would like to thank my wonderful DEP team that listened to my crazy ideas and through creative collaboration made this event better than I would have imagined.
A special thank you goes to Angela Roode from Medtronic, Salim Lakhani from Sanofi-Aventis, and from Bayer. Your support and contributions were immeasurable.
I would like to thank the Bramalea Community Health Centre’s Executive Director Mayo Hawco for not rolling her eyes when I presented the idea, and for allowing us to take over the staff meeting without letting the cat out of the bag.
Above all I would like to thank all the wonderful staff at BCHC for making this event so successful. They went above and beyond what most would do to experience some of the day in and day out challenges those of us face living with diabetes.
They all are true Diabetes CHAMPIONS!
