Re: where are you from

Hello JDRF Canada followers, just curious where everyone is from?, and also, if you're a parent of a type 1 diabetic does your child have any friends with diabetes as well??, I'm from Milton Ontario, my son is 5 years old, and to the best of our knowledge theres is nobody his age in this town with it, theres a local social network for Milton Moms that my wife had joined and had no responses when she asked the question does anyone have a child with diabetes, I ask this becasue it would be so beneficial to Jesse to hang out with someone with the same affliction, everytime I see or hear a celebrity with type 1 diabetes eg. Bret Micheals, Nick Jonas I make it a point of telling Jesse, just so he has a role model to look up to, and with Krystal Bowersox from A.I. last year, and learning George Canyon has diabetes recently the role models just keep coming, but again it'd be nice to have Jesse hang with a peer...

Thanks for leeting me ramble...

Chris 

Milton Ont.

Hello Chris,

My name is Jennifer and I am a parent of a child with type 1, my son Jacob was diagnosed 4 years ago on March 6th.  We live in Hamilton.  I know how you feel about a lack of connection with others and although I am not sure how long you have been living with diabetes I am sure that you have encountered many people who don't have a clue what your life is like.  I am currently in the process of establishing a parent network here in Hamilton and I know it is a little ways away but if you are interested I can send you any information about meetings and events we are planning and if it works out you and your family would be more than welcomed to join us.  It may be just what you need until you can find some local families to connect with.

Feel free to ramble anytime I know how you feel.

Take care and I look forward to hearing from you,

Jennifer

Hamilton, On

Hello Chris,

I am an adult Type 1 diabetic (diagnosed waaaaayyyy back in 1973!) living in Kitchener.  I myself don't have any children, however I am very involved with my local JDRF chapter's families.  Here are a couple of suggestions:

1)  There is a family in Cambridge (about 30 mins. from Milton), who runs a monthly play/support group for area families.  They run it out of their home.  While the parents (moms and dads alike) sit together and chat, the kids all have a blast together in the basement.  It's so cute to see them all pull out their meters at the same time!

2)  This coming week, on Wed. March 30th, both the Hamilton and Waterloo JDRF offices are hosting their annual Research Symposiums.  These events are a great opportunity to not only get updated on the latest news and research, but also to network with other families.  Plus, kids are welcome to attend!

3)  Finally, this summer, at the end of July, the organization "Children with Diabetes" will be hosting a "Friends for Life" event in Toronto.  It is a full weekend event for the entire family, to be held at the Eaton Centre Marriott, July 29-31st.  Actually, I will be volunteering at this event, working with the pre-teen program.

So there you have it!  If you want any more information about any of the above, I would be more than happy to provide it!  Just say the word!!! ☺

Nads

I am in scarborough and cannot find any support in my area (I don't drive) and the dec's in my area have turned me away because I am type 1 and they only support persons and families of type 2. I have no one to relate to. I was admitted last week to the hospital when due to stress and lack of support in my community I went dka (admitted at a 64). I requested to speak to a social worker and psyciatrist about what I was going through. They walked in so prepared with local diabetes groups (all of which I had already contacted) and I asked them to call with me. They were stunned to hear the groups all clearly state they do not handle type 1. After an hour and a half they apologized for having nothing they could do to help me emotionally, they offered me a highly addictive narcotic to "handle" my "issue" and left. Thanks but the last thing I need is a drug addiction on top of my t1d. I would like to start a support group for adults in my area but I am not sure how to begin. This is my starting line. If there is anyone in the scarborough area that is an adult living with t1d please feel free to contact me and maybe we can work towards something better than this.

I am from Montreal Quebec and there are no support groups for Type 1 only Type 2 (go figure).  I am Type 1 for over 10 years and my son was diagnosed 1  1/2 years ago at age 8.  

I have tried to create my own support group by posting a note at the Montreal Children's Hospital and created a webpage on Facebook called Canadian Mothers of DIabetics yet I still cannot get any support and no parent has tried to contact me :-(

If anyone is interested to chat, they can check out my page on Facebook.  It is slow to get started since I need a certain amount of people to join but keep checking and of course keep coming back to Juvenation.  I see a lot of people from ONtario on these sites but not many from Montreal.  

Good luck

Hi everyone,

I am from the Ottawa area.  My son Marcus was diagnosed 6 months ago (Sept 18, 2011).  

We are just getting a grip on the new normal.  

Sara

My daughter was diagnosed with Type1 when she was 4 years old. She is now 16 and on an insulin pump for the first time. We have been through so much and I know what you mean by getting used to the new normal! It is such a difficult and emotional time. Please reach out if you need support. I did not have alot of support from other parents with my daughter and relied on the clinics for all of our support. I could have used it though...and to have groups where you could speak to other moms going through the same thing would have meant alot. She has had diabetes for 13 years and I still find I need support (especially going through the teen years!)  Please contact if you have questions or just need to vent. We all need to stick together!

Hi Chris I am a type 2 from burnaby bc I do use insulin and I am a big diabetes cure supporter my name is shelly I have been diabetic for 5 years now thanks

in brampton.  Im sorry Bijanca. its a struggle. diagnosed type one dec 2010 and still trying to adjust. was in the hospital for dka and it was HELL.

if you need to chat, let me know.

hmm yes i guess all u can do is ask the teacher to keep an eye out give teacher a plastic bottle with corn syrop and get dr to arrange diabetic camp .. camp huronda