Q. Where are you from?

Q. What’s your story?
A. Born 2 minutes apart, Alex was first diagnosed at 18 months, and Andrew was diagnosed at the age of 7.  We have never looked at diabetes as a handicap, and have accomplished much in both academics, sports and travel!  Both of us are currently on the pump.  University was spent at Queen’s, McMaster and UofT pursuing education in medicine and engineering.  Our parents are our role models for providing us with a healthy and hardworking ethic both in work and play!

Q. What was your insulin regime like when you were first diagnosed with diabetes?
A. It has gotten much easier, less painful, and more flexible since we were first diagnosed.  Using a pump has made a world of a difference in allowing for discreet dosing and minor interruptions to our daily life.

Q. What are the top 5 most played songs on your iTunes?
A. Top 40!

Q. What are the coolest thing you’ve done as people with diabetes?
A. We have canoe-tripped in Algonquin, snowboarded in Whistler, backpacked in Europe, camped in the Middle East, hiked in South America, and eaten lots of strange foods in Asia!  Not because we are diabetic, but because diabetes does not control us!  A recent great opportunity for us was to speak at the annual Diabetes Day weekend at the Hospital for Sick Children, our childhood hospital, to let other diabetics know that there are no restrictions with this disease!

Q. What keeps you ‘in motion’?
A. We always love to be active!  Growing up as competitive swimmers, we were fortunate enough to be medalists at the high school OFSAA championships, as well as record holders within our swimming region!  We have been a member of volleyball, basketball, inner-tube waterpolo, dragon boat, cross-country, rugby, ultimate frisbee teams and many more!  No sport is out of our scope, and we embrace the work hard, play hard mentality!

Q. Do you have a blog or link you’d like to include?
A. http://www.facebook.com/aanda.yeung

Q. Where are you from?

Q. What’s your story?
A. I’ve had diabetes for 9 years now.  I was on the pump years ago then went to MDI and now trying to go back on the pump! Exhausting! I’m currently finishing my Psychology degree at the University of Ottawa.  I am in love with sports (hockey, soccer, rugby, baseball, basketball, volleyball etc. etc. etc.) and anything to do with staying active including outdoor activities, such as camping, hiking and FISHING!  My family has been the biggest support of all, they are a wonderful bunch that keep me smiling and going day to day.

Q. What was your insulin regime like when you were first diagnosed with diabetes?
A. At first, I was told ” ‘X’ amount of starch, fruits and vegetables”.  This included following strict times for snacks and meals.  Now, with MDI, I am taking two doses of Lantus a day with Humalog every time I eat.  This is all in hopes of one day being able to go on the Pump!

Q. What are the top 5 songs on your iTunes?
A. John Mayer – Vultures
Lupe Fiasco – Til I Get There
LCD Soundsystem – Daft Punk Is Playing at My House (London Session)
Duck Sauce – Barbara Streisand
Hollerado – Julliette

Q. What is the coolest thing you’ve done as a person with diabetes?
A. I have traveled to Rome, France and the United Kingdom (twice) all being diabetic which have been some of the best experiences of my life.  I would have to say my biggest accomplishment to date however, would be my 8 year streak as a counsellor and leader at Camp Banting.  Recently I have programmed, planned and implemented the Junior Leadership program which focuses on youth aged 14-15 with type-1 diabetes.  We teach the youth hard, outdoor skills such as survival techniques, fire building and orienteering.  In 2007, I had the honour of being named Male Counsellor of the year.  Camp Banting is my home away from home!

Q. What keeps you ‘in motion’?
A. Currently, I am playing hockey at least 2 times a week (sometimes up to 3 times a week!).  In the winter I am able to go to the outdoor rinks, whenever school is willing to let me go.  The summer brings much of the same and I am able to keep enjoying hockey at least once a week.  I have played lots of rugby in the past and was captain and MVP of my high school team.  That same year I was named to the Eastern all-star team, and continued to play club for a U18 city team.
In the summer, I enjoy camping when time permits and I am able to escape.  If not, I enjoy fishing at my cottage for hours on end.  Not to mention any game of pick-up I can find – baseball, basketball, volleyball or tennis!

Follow Russell on Twitter: @BigrussT

Hometown

Daryl has called Langley, British Columbia home for the past 16 years.  He currently attends Lanlgey Fundamental Middle and Secondary School (LFMSS).

What’s your story?

Daryl has had Diabetes for 3 years.  He currently is on Multiple Daily Injections (MDI) but is looking into switching to the pump in the upcoming months.

Daryl has six family members and is the only diabetic among them!

The Coolest thing that Daryl has done while living with diabetes was heading out to hike the mountains of Garibaldi Provincial Park with a group of other youth with diabetes–A trip he took with Connected in Motion!  After completing the hiking trip, he used his new found skills and returned to Garibaldi Provincial Park where he reached the summit of the Black Tusk.

What keeps you ‘in motion’?

Daryl’s hobbies include snowboarding/skiing and playing competitive sports, especially basketball, volleyball, rugby and soccer.

Daryl keeps in motion by knowing that he can be a better person by taking advantage of his diabetes.  He uses his new found healthy lifestyle to push himself to greater athletic accomplishments.

What’s your story?

Jen was diagnosed with diabetes when she was three years old. She grew up on a farm in Sunderland, Ontario with two younger brothers and two younger sisters. When she was eight years old she became a camper at Camp Huronda and spent the next eighteen summers on the shores of Lake Waseosa working as a counsellor, pottery instructor, climbing tower instructor, challenge course instructor and program director! Jen had the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica in 2008 and teach at an environmentally focused experiential school in the mountains of Monte Verde. Since then she has been keen to expand her traveling horizons! Instead of limiting her, Jen believes that diabetes has allowed her countless opportunities and is grateful for all of the amazing people she has met because of it!

How do you keep ‘in Motion’?

Jen grew up exposed to an abundance of sport and physical activity, but competed most passionately in rugby, hockey, ringette and wrestling. Jen attended Brock University and competed both provincially and nationally with the Varsity Women’s Wrestling team and trained among Canada’s olympians with the Brock Wrestling Club.

Recently, Jen has broadened her ‘sporting horizons’ and has began running, hiking and swimming.

Do you have any ‘Words of betes Wisdom’ to share?

Take advantage of the opportunities that diabetes allows you and the challenges will be easily overcome.

Website/Blog Link

www.twitter.com/j2hanson

Hometown
Toronto, Ontario

What’s your Story?
Michael was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 25 but lived almost six months prior as a type 2 following a misdiagnosis. Having graduated with a degree in Political Science, this revelation provided him with a more personalized connection to an issue that would allow him to share his grassroots energy and desire to make a meaningful difference in the world. Michael is currently working with the Canadian Diabetes Association in addition to being a part-time student at Ryerson University in the Nonprofit and Volunteer Management Certificate Program. On top of this, he still enjoys finding time to coach baseball, volunteer in the upcoming Toronto municipal election, and provide special project support to a start-up organization, Tennis in the City. He loves anything and everything that has to do with food, especially cooking, and still makes the trip to Kensington Market every weekend to grocery shop. His new downtown digs seamlessly cater to his eclectic tastes.

In no particular order the coolest things that Michael has done since being diagnosed are 1) having the honour of being the “Best Man” at his dad’s wedding 2) appearing in the Toronto Star and speaking at the CN Tower on World Diabetes Day as a Youth Advocate for the CDA 3) participating in the first annual Winter Slipstream and learning to love camp.

What keeps you ‘In Motion’?
Michael is a true athlete of all seasons at both the recreational and All-Star levels, although those moments seem more akin to days gone by. An avid hockey player still dreaming of taking that “one” celebrated shift in the big leagues. Name the venue: baseball, tennis, golf or rugby and he will meet you there.

Words of ‘Betes Wisdom.
There are so many and still collecting…

Despite the adversity, diabetes reawakened my senses and made me re-examine what it means to live life passionately and to embrace the unpredictable flow of each day with a sense of joy and happiness.

A universal thought that he has carried since high school:

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.’ We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? … Your playing small does not serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you… And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” – Marianne Williamson

Website Blog
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DujA4JF-kpM