A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET DIABETES LIVING WELL WITH PERSONALHEALTHNEWS.CA DIABETES IS POSSIBLE During the night of October 31, 1920, Canadian hero Sir Frederick Banting woke up with the idea of insulin — a discovery that has saved millions of lives worldwide. Rick Blickstead While research developments are en- President & CEO couraging, they do not always benefit Canadian everyone who needs them. Fair access Diabetes to devices, medications, and health care LIFE ON THE Association professionals varies across Canada de- pending on where you live and your ince then, the progress insurance plans. Shockingly, there are achieved in managing dia- Canadians living with diabetes today big screen betes is nothing short of mir- who must choose between food, rent, aculous. We understand and utilities, or medication. can manage it much bet- The fact that diabetes takes no breaks Ster thanks to the medications, testing can make living with it difficult. Once WITH TYPE 1 devices, and the expertise of dedicated you have it, it is 24/7/365. The key to liv- health care professionals. ing well with diabetes — and not have it While it may be easier to live with dia- control your life — is a network of family, DIABETES betes today than in the past, it is never friends, and health care professionals to easy. Diabetes produces high blood sug- support you. That network includes as- ar that can damage organs, blood ves- sociations and patient groups, which of- sels, and nerves — contributing to 30 fer education and resources to everyone percent of strokes, 40 percent of heart involved in the fight against diabetes. attacks, 50 percent of kidney failure requir- ing dialysis, 70 percent “Every person living with Garber views his diabetes diagnosis as a learning experience. Photo: Dean Buscher/The CW/ of non-traumatic leg diabetes — whether Type 1, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. and foot amputations, as well as being a leading Type 2, or gestational — cause of blindness. Every person living has a different journey.” anadian actor Victor Garber was Managing Type 1 with long, Diabetes diagnosis is an with diabetes — wheth- just 12 years old when he was diag- irregular days on set “Type 1 diabetes is opportunity to grow er Type 1, Type 2, or gestational — has This fall, an online two-minute Type 2 nosed with Type 1 diabetes. “I was Garber’s accomplishments are notable: three not who I am — it’s For those who know or love someone with a different journey, but all share the diabetes risk questionnaire is also avail- sort of intrigued by the whole idea Emmy Award nominations for his role in the ABC Type 1 diabetes, Garber encourages them to need to eat a healthy diet and be phys- able at www.diabetestest.ca. of giving myself shots,” Garber action series Alias, prominent roles in films like something that I’m become educated on the condition. Talk about ically active. Many share the challenge This fight is becoming ever more remembers. “I wasn’t so much Titanic and Argo, and a successful stage career it or learn about the illness through websites of testing their blood sugars, taking important as another Canadian is frightened by it as curious as to how that was that has earned him four Tony Award nomina- living with.” and support groups. While a Type 1 diagnosis medications — potentially including diagnosed with diabetes every three going to work.” tions. Garber is currently starring as Dr. Martin at a young age can be difficult for a patient’s insulin, and monitoring their health minutes, adding to the 11 million al- Dependent on regular blood tests and Stein in the DC Comics series Legends of Tomor- periencing low blood sugar, remedied with a loved ones, Garber looks at the bright side for the first signs of the impacts of dia- ready living with diabetes or predia- injections to deliver the insulin his body could row, where long and unpredictable days on set fast-acting source of carbohydrates like juice of things. “Especially for parents and for betes on their bodies. betes. November is Diabetes Awareness no longer produce, Garber describes how the would challenge any diabetes management rou- or candy. “When I was doing Alias, Jennifer grandparents, you can see this as an opportun- The medications, devices, and treat- Month, and World Diabetes Day falls on diagnosis of a life-long condition affected not tine. “My hours are completely irregular because Garner would know immediately,” Garber ex- ity to grow,” says Garber. “You learn more about ments continue to improve — including the 14th — the birthday of Sir Frederick only his life but those around him. “I think it I work in television at the moment,” Garber ex- plains. “She would say ‘Get him some orange your body. You take better care of yourself. There Canadian-led advances coming from re- Banting. These reminders give us a was almost harder for my mother than me,” plains. But with the help of a continuous glucose juice now.’” He encourages those with Type are a lot of positive things that can come out of search funded by the Canadian Diabetes chance to make this invisible epidem- he recalls. But Garber learned how to monitor and a continuous insulin delivery sys- 1 diabetes to talk about their condition with these diagnoses.” Association (CDA). Innovations are on- ic visible so we can end its health com- manage the disease, showing his par- tem, he keeps his blood sugar levels stable and friends, family, and coworkers so they recog- coming, including blood sugar monitor- plication and stigma, and through re- ents — and himself — there was life can concentrate on demanding scenes. nize the symptoms of unstable blood sugar and Andrea Yu ing that does not involve finger pricking, search, end diabetes altogether. beyond the diagnosis. “Type 1 dia- Garber is honest about how his diabetes can help give reminders to test blood sugar lev- and an artificial pancreas that reacts to betes is not who I am — it’s something management sometimes involves the help of els. “Be open about it so that it’s not so mysteri- blood sugar levels in real-time. Rick Blickstead that I’m living with.” those around him — especially when he’s ex- ous and you’re not a pariah.” Publisher: Melissa Hartman Business Developer: Jacob Weingarten Managing Director: Martin Kocandrle Production Director: Carlo Ammendolia Photo credits: All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. Send all inquiries to [email protected]. Lead Designer: Matthew Senra Account Manager: Ryan Shepherd Designer: Oana Cazan This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve Maclean’s Magazine or its editorial departments. PERSONALHEALTHNEWS.CA A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET Max Domi encourages youngsters to take every step necessary to manage their diabetes. Photo: Ascensia Diabetes Care max domi’s Success Depends on Accuracy hen Max Domi He checks his level using a he describes it as feeling “loopy” ing him functioning at his best. steps out of the CONTOUR® NEXT blood glucose — and when it climbs too high “They work with my diabetic dressing room monitor and adjusts his insu- his energy fades; he gets as tired specialist to ensure everyone is after a game, lin through a pump upwards of after 30-seconds on the ice as he on the same page in terms of my fans surround six times a day, including before normally does after 15-minutes treatment,” he says. “It’s great him. The ris- and after meals and even when of wind sprints. to have them working together. ing professional ice hockey star al- he’s competing. High blood sugar tends to affect They all help me to stay in control ways takes the time to exchange a During a typical 60-minute his game in other ways, too. “I’m and focus on my passion.” few words and sign autographs. game, Domi checks his blood sug- not the kind of player who takes Every person with diabetes Once in a while, Domi comes ar level during and after each of the a lot of penalties, but when my needs a support network to across youngsters who, like him, three periods, adjusting his insulin blood sugar spikes I can be irrit- thrive, says Domi. Some support have Type 1 diabetes, a disease in as necessary. able,” he says, admitting to the networks extend further than which the blood sugar can soar most. Domi’s includes a service to dangerous highs and lows be- dog named Orion. When Domi’s cause the pancreas is unable to “Control your diabetes. blood sugar drops, the golden lab produce insulin to regulate it. He picks up the scent and lets his spends a few extra minutes with Don’t let your diabetes owner know by grabbing a chew those kids and always delivers the toy that Domi wears on his belt. same message: “Control your dia- control you.” The protocol is different when betes. Don’t let your diabetes con- he is asleep. “Orion will jump trol you.” Domi, 21, sometimes makes chan- occasional slash across an oppon- on my bed and lick my face,” he Domi practices what he preach- ges to accommodate the demands of ent’s leg. “I sometimes snap at ref- says with a laugh. “What a way es. Since he was diagnosed with his job. For example, Domi’s regi- erees and linesmen. But I always to wake up!” diabetes nine years ago, he has men is different when the team apologize. I never use my diabetes He encourages everyone living taken every step necessary to is on the road, because he’s eat- as an excuse.” with diabetes to embrace the de- manage the disease and follow ing and sleeping at varying times.