Diana Provenzano
I am an active healthy individual, who has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 28 years. As a Chartered Accountant work commitments can easily distract you from managing your diabetes, but by committing time to volunteering with the Canadian Diabetes Association, it helps me stay focused.
The volunteer opportunities at the Canadian Diabetes Association are numerous. I have been involved as a committee member for Camp Huronda, a camp for children with type 1 diabetes. I work with a group of individuals to determine how the camp program will be administered. I have seen children grow from being frightened to give themselves their needles, to confident young adults capable of managing their diabetes. I have spoken at health fairs, at workplaces, seniors’ homes and at community interest groups. I have encountered many who need to manage this illness daily but are unable.
By being involved you receive first hand, up to date, information, enabling you to be well informed. It is through knowledge that you are able to do anything you want. Meeting people with diabetes is reassuring: you are not alone fighting the battle.
Diabetes has not stopped me from doing the things I want to because I am well informed and can cope with the unexpected surprises: the lows and highs that may occur in our blood sugar, being told we need to add another medication to help prevent a complication, or how best to address a complication when one arises. With the appropriate plans and support you can do anything you aspire to.