Month: August 2019

We’re very excited to announce the winners of the Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects Award Program for JDRF! Through the generous support of Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects, the Program is awarding $5,000 dollars each for a total of $105,000 to help students living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) with tuition and book costs as they pursue post-secondary education in a university, college or trade school.

This is a first-time initiative as part of JDRF’s exclusive partnership with Boston Pizza Foundation Future Prospects, and it aims to empower young leaders in the T1D community to reach their full potential by providing financial support for education.

The Award Program was open to those aged 17 and over, who live with type 1 diabetes, reside in Canada, and who will be pursuing or continuing their post-secondary, Masters and/or post-doctoral programs.  In its inaugural year, the Award Program received more than 120 applications from across Canada, demonstrating the incredible impact young people are making in the T1D community.

Here are the winners of the 2019 Award Program:

 

Name: Aleksandar Ivovic
Age: 29
Province: Ontario
T1D Diagnosis: since 1998
What this Award means to me: getting some financial support allows me to focus on my study and it motivates me to keep helping the T1D community.
My plans for the future: pursuing my Jurist Doctor degree. I hope to use my degree to practise law in the areas of health, disability and human rights and help people with T1D.

 

 

 

Name: Alexandre Machado-Gédéon
Age: 25
Province: Quebec
T1D Diagnosis: since 2015
What this Award means to me: it will allow me to fulfill my own personal career oriented goals as a young adult and future physician living with type 1 diabetes.
My Plans for the future: to pursue a degree in medicine. As a future physician I hope to be involved in teaching and support and encourage youth living with type 1 diabetes. 

 

Name: Audrey Pépin
Age: 22
Province: Quebec
T1D Diagnosis: since 2007
What this Award means to me: I’m happy to learn that I did a good job at raising awareness of diabetes. I’m travelling to Germany for my student exchange program soon. This Award will help me cover some of the expenses related to my trip.
My plans for the future: to pursue a Masters in Logistics and I look forward to growing and learning in all the projects I undertake.

 

 

 

Name: Austin Shawaga
Age: 17
Province: Alberta
T1D Diagnosis: since 2005
What this Award means to me: this shows that diabetes does not have to be a weakness and can be used as a strength.
My Plans for the future: to pursue a degree in computer science. I’d like to become a network security engineer and help protect people’s data from those who wish to exploit it. 

 

 

Name: Ben Thorne
Age: 18
Province: New Brunswick
T1D Diagnosis: since 2009
What this Award means to me: it will help me ease the financial burden of university and it’s great that JDRF and the Boston Pizza Foundation will be supporting me in my studies.  
My plans for the future: to pursue a Bachelor of Sciences degree in human kinetics and continue to med school to become an endocrinologist. I would also love to continue working with JDRF and have a career that involves research and development of new technologies and managing diabetes using exercise.

 

 

Name: Brittany Epp
Age: 25
Province: Saskatchewan
T1D Diagnosis: since 2009
What this Award means to me: it will allow me to continue my licensed practical nurse diploma with very little financial stress. 
My plans for the future: to continue to be a diabetes educator and insulin pump trainer and provide these services to people affected by the disease.

 

 

 

 

Name: Brooks Roche
Age: 23
Province: Prince Edward Island
T1D Diagnosis: since 2000
What this Award means to me: I feel grateful to see JDRF and the Boston Pizza Foundation support youth living with T1D and recognize the financial challenges of life with the disease.
My plans for the future: to pursue my Master of Business Administration in Global Leadership. I was recently appointed member of the Prime Minister Youth Council and I welcome the opportunity to continue to influence positively. 

 

 

Name: Evelyn Ridell 
Age: 20
Province: Ontario
T1D Diagnosis: Since 2011
What this Award means to me: I’m really thankful to JDRF and the Boston Pizza Foundation for giving me the financial support that I need to ensure that three years of hard work and resiliency is going to result in me holding my degree.
My plans for the future: I’m about to graduate this year from the University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Historical Studies. I can’t thank JDRF and the Boston Pizza Foundation enough for helping me to have such an amazing future ahead of me.

 

 

 

Name: Josée Daigneault
Age: 50
Province: Quebec
Diagnosis:  since 2004
What this Award means to me:  It recognizes my life as person with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and my involvement in the T1D community. This Award will help cover the costs of my projects related to the Specialized Graduate Diploma and Masters degree in management training that I am currently pursuing at the University of Sherbrooke.
My plans for the future: I would like to develop and oversee a project in partnership with patients in the T1D community. I would like to thank Boston Pizza and JDRF for believing in my journey and supporting the professional development of people with type 1 diabetes.

 

 

Name: Justin Vezina
Age: 21
Province: Quebec
T1D Diagnosis: since 2007
What this Award means to me: I would be able to continue to raise awareness and make an impact in the T1D community while having some financial support to cover some of my tuition fees.
My plans for the future: finish with my Bachelor of Construction Engineering and become Project Manager in big contruction sites or start my own business.

 

 

 Name: Kaleb Dahlgren 
Age: 22
Province: Saskatchewan
T1D Diagnosis: since 2001
What this Award means to me: I’m really thankful to JDRF and Boston Pizza for this award and for allowing me to receive money for education. It’s quite a burden on many people, especially myself as I need to pay for my school. I’m really thankful that Boston Pizza and JDRF can help alleviate some of these costs and provide me the post-secondary education I need to succeed.
My plans for the future: I would love to become a chiropractor and specialize in sports.

 

 

Name: Kristen Eng
Age: 25
Province: British Columbia
T1D Diagnosis: since 2009
What this Award means to me: : It gives me the opportunity to connect with more individuals in the T1D community and I’m really really excited about that!
My plans for the future: I would like to become a dentist. Also, I hope to visit South America and Antarctica in the near future. 

 

 

 

 

 

Name: Lianne Adair
Age: 17
Province: Manitoba
T1D Diagnosis: since 2003
What this Award means to me: it demonstrates that hard work truly pays off. I’m able to pursue a higher education at the university of my dream.
My plans for the future: to pursue my Bachelor of Commerce degree. In the future, I’d like to work for a non for profit organization focusing on medical packaging and supporting the environment. 

 

 

 

Name: Madelyn Wells
Age: 17
Province: Ontario
T1D Diagnosis: since 2010
What this Award means to me: I would be able to focus on my academic goals and my health rather than the financial stress of university.
My plans for the future: to pursue a Bachelor Degree in Social Justice and Peace Studies. My career plan is to become a childhood educator to make a difference in children’s life. 

 

 

 

Name: Marley Greenberg
Age: 19
Province: Ontario
T1D Diagnosis: since 2008
What this Award means to me: This Award will allow me to focus on my studies and my career path and also on helping those with type 1 diabetes at U of T and to help those in the broader community through great organizations like JDRF.
My plans for the future: to pursue a degree in Health at U of T. I’m hoping to work in health promotion or health policies. I’m passionate about type 1 diabetes and I hope to improve the health of people affected by the disease.

 

 

 

 

Name: Maryna Ell
Age: 22
Province: British Columbia
T1D Diagnosis: since 2009
What this Award means to me: it’s hard to manage T1D and school and both are expensive. I’m really grateful for the financial support I will be getting with this Award. 
My plans for the future: to pursue a degree in Registered Nursing. I plan to work in pediatrics and ultimately diabetes education. I graduate next year and I’m really looking forward to my future.

 

 

 

Name: Michael Thornton
Age: 19
Province: Ontario
T1D diagnosis: since 2007
What this Award means to me: It means so much to get recognized. This Award will help alleviate the costs of pursuing a post-secondary education.  
My plans for the future:  to pursue a Bachelor of Sciences degree in kinesiology. I’d like to become a chiropractor because I love helping other people and I want people to live a healthy and active lifestyle and recover from any difficult situations in their life. 

 

 

 

Name: Mitchell Aguinaga
Age: 18
Province: Nova Scotia
T1D Diagnosis: since 2008
What this Award means to me: I would be able to graduate with less debt than I would’ve without it. This financial support would also help me with diabetes management supplies.
My plans for the future: to pursue a degree in Marine Biology. I’ve always been fascinated by the ocean and I love to promote the conservation of our local ecosystems.  

 

 

Name: Nick Wall 
Age: 21
Province: British Columbia
T1D Diagnosis: since 2000
What this Award means to me: I feel grateful to be recognized for the mentoring work I’ve been doing. 
My plans for the future: to pursue a degree in Chemistry for the Medical Sciences. I hope to get into Medical School. I plan to continue my involvement in the T1D community and I hope to become a doctor. 

 

 

 

 

Name: Oria James
Age: 20
Province: Ontario
T1D Diagnosis: since 2009
What this Award means to me: it would remove some financial pressure and allow me to spend my time and my energy focusing on my passions as well as my coursework. 
My plans for the future: I’m completing a double major in Global Health which is a science degree and Health Studies. I plan to use public speaking as well as policy changes to spread awareness and ultimately improve the lives of people living with chronic conditions. 

 

 

 

Name: Tyson Fiveland
Age: 18
Province: Ontario
T1D Diagnosis: since 2004
What this Award means to me: it’s a huge honour for me as it recognizes people who devote time and effort to be leaders in the T1D community.
My plans for the future: to pursue Police Studies. I would love to be a law enforcement officer with the RCMP to engage with the community and keep people safe.

 

The incredible pool of submissions was reviewed by a cross-functional volunteer selection committee who chose the winners based on their contributions to the T1D community, their ability to raise awareness of the disease, and the work they’ve done to support their peers – all while managing type 1 diabetes.

A huge congratulations to the award recipients! Receiving this financial support will not only make the pursuit of education easier for these students, it will also reinforce how valuable young people’s contributions are to the T1D community. We hope to share some of these students’ stories in the future to see how they were inspired to accomplish great things.

 

Insulin has been the subject of many news stories recently as the high cost of insulin and other drugs has led to two US federal initiatives aimed at allowing the bulk importation of lower cost Canadian drugs. A reliable and consistent supply of insulin enables Canadians with type 1 diabetes to live their lives fully, but this recent news shouldn’t be cause for undue alarm. While these initiatives were recently announced they won’t become law for 3-4 months, and there is no guarantee that they will have the intended affect at that time. Dave Prowten, CEO and President of JDRF Canada, issued a statement  in response to the recent news and rest assured, and JDRF is committed to ensuring everyone living with T1D in Canada can keep their right to reliable insulin access.

 

 

Diagnosed at just nine years old and now 35, Ash Hunkin’s life hasn’t been the same since she invested in the Medtronic MiniMed 670G hybrid closed loop system. It has allowed her to manage her type 1 diabetes (T1D) a lot better.

 “The changes in my diabetes management have been astonishing,” says the BC resident. “Last week I had my first endo visit post 670G. My A1C had dropped an entire point meaning that I’m in range. This is the first time I’ve been able to accomplish that probably since puberty!”

In October 2018, Health Canada approved the first hybrid closed-loop system, Medtronic’s MiniMed 670G advanced insulin pump. This is the only device in the market that offers a hybrid closed-loop functionality which uses glucose readings from Medtronic’s Guardian sensors to adjust or suspend insulin basal delivery. It is called a “hybrid” closed-loop system because the patient still has to enter carbohydrates when they are eating to make decisions about meal-time insulin. As the first partially automated insulin delivery system on the market, it represents an evolution in the self-management of type 1 diabetes.

Days later, Health Canada also approved Tandem Diabetes’ t:slim X2 insulin pump. Designed to integrate with Dexcom’s G5 and G6 sensors, it eliminates the need for finger-stick blood testing today while paving the way for low-glucose suspend technology in the future.

Ash, a community engagement specialist for JDRF, described the emotion she felt when the announcement of the Health Canada approval for 670G came through. “My family had been fundraising for JDRF since the early 90s. Back then everyone was talking about a fantasy future where we imagined that the new test kits and pump technology might someday combine into an artificial pancreas technology that could do the work for us. It seemed completely far away. To be in the office when we got the news was so surreal and honestly brought me to tears.”

Ash would benefit a lot more if the 670G was publicly covered. “Like a lot of T1Ds I’m used to spending money that other people in my career or age would be using to buy a condo, take trips, or eat out,” she says. “I buy clothing at thrift stores and cut corners in other areas like groceries and my personal life so I can invest in diabetes technologies. Lots of people are scrimping and saving that much just to get by even without diabetes. With the health outcomes possible it is unjust that other people living with T1D can’t access this. It shouldn’t depend on how much disposable income you have available to purchase a product like this. It’s not a luxury.”

Having choices in how patients treat and manage their T1D is invaluable and enables them to make better decisions for themselves. These devices represent an important next step toward a closed-loop insulin system and should be accessible options for anyone managing type 1 diabetes.

JDRF has written to the BC government asking that all BC residents living with type 1 diabetes have affordable access to the Medtronic MiniMed 670G and the Tandem t:slim X2  by adding them to the province’s list of approved Tier 2 devices under the province’s insulin program. BC residents can add their voice by using a new online action to reach out to their provincial representative and asking them to include these two devices in the BC Pharmacare program.

 

 

Type 1 diabetes advocate, Samir Dattani, wants to make one thing clear; advocacy isn’t just about talking to members of Parliament. It can come in any form, so long as personal stories are being shared.

The 17-year-old has been sharing his story and advocating for greater government support for the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community for almost ten years. Diagnosed at the age of eight, T1D was completely unknown to him and his family, but they took the diagnosis and decided to connect with JDRF and the T1D community right away. “I was diagnosed in December 2010 and we became involved with the Walk the following June,” said Samir. “After a few years I started giving speeches and sharing my story at the Walk, then continued to do so for the Ride,” said Samir.

The experience of speaking in front of crowds and sharing his personal story, made it easy for Samir to transition into advocacy, and in 2012 he joined other young people as a delegate at JDRF’s Kids for a Cure Lobby Day on Parliament Hill. He participated again during Kids for a Cure 2016. “It is basically taking those same messages and conveying them in a way that helps members of government develop a personal connection,” he explains. In July 2019, Samir took his advocacy work international and brought this approach to Washington, D.C. as the JDRF Canada representative at JDRF’s Children’s Congress.

During his time there, he was paired up with another young delegate living with T1D and together they took meetings with U.S. representatives to advocate for greater government support, one of which was with Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton, representing Virginia’s 10^th district.

“For our meeting [the goal] was the Special Diabetes Program,” Samir recalls. “We wanted [it] to be extended to 4 or 5 years, with an extra $150-$200 million.” Preparing for a meeting with such a large goal for a critical program that supports T1D research was intimidating but Samir says it always comes down to a simple thing, “We knew what we were pushing for and we supported it by sharing our personal stories about how T1D affects our lives.”

While Samir is a compelling speaker and comfortable sharing his story in public, he knows his approach to advocacy isn’t for everyone and wants to make sure people find the way that works for them. “You can do whatever interests you when it comes to advocacy. Whether it’s participating in Walks and Rides, speaking at Walks and Rides, or writing letters to your member of parliament, whatever you want to do you can do – and it will make a difference.”

You can get involved too! Join our #AccessForAll campaign and help us advocate for affordable and accessible technologies for T1D. However you decide to add your voice, you’ll be joining young advocates like Samir and making a difference.