Living Healthy

More than 20 people are diagnosed with diabetes every hour of every day - meet people who are living healthy while living with diabetes

Georgia Joorisity - Regina, SK

Georgia Joorisity - Regina, SK Public Programs and Services Volunteer, Canadian Diabetes Association

For Georgia Joorisity, living healthy is always top of mind, woven through her personal history.

“When you have a child who’s diagnosed with anything,” says the active 66-year-old retired school principal and grandmother, “it becomes a major factor in your life.” Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age five, her son died of complications 30 years later. “Troy’s diabetes made a difference in our family’s life, but put very few limitations on his interests or activities.”

A Canadian Diabetes Association volunteer in Regina, Georgia delivers presentations to the community.

“I give back, but get just as much back: when you’ve been an educator and get to share and be in front of people again, it’s great.”

Georgia’s background serves her well, offering different ways of reaching out. Seniors and young people are her favourite audiences.

“Seniors are fabulous. When they share, often everyone in the room learns something that I couldn’t offer.” Of young people, she observes that most are more aware of diabetes than 20 years ago.

“When I ask kids, who knows someone who has diabetes?, numerous hands go up. And they often know if it’s type 1 or 2.” She adds that while many understand healthy eating and Canada’s Food Guide, there is a great need to connect with their parents.

“We really need to reach parents: the people who are filling the fridges, buying the groceries, handing out spending money. Seniors are wonderful - they like to share, and kids know lots, but it’s one thing to know a lot, and another to put things into practice.”