Dr. Mammon is a resident physician in the University of Ottawa Family Medicine program. He has lived with type 1 diabetes since the age of 12 and is passionate about helping others in the diabetes community. He co-founded Young & T1, a social networking organization for young adults living with T1type 1 diabetes. In 2018, they successfully advocated for universal insulin pump coverage in BC. He volunteered at diabetes camp as a Midnight Rambler and in many roles at JDRF fundraising events. He was a clinical research assistant at BC Children's Hospital for projects investigating cardiovascular health in children with type 1 diabetes as well as the TrialNet Pathway to Prevention study.
Dr. Mammon started using a DIY artificial pancreas system in 2016 and has helped others learn about the technology through build workshops and Zoom presentations. When he's not in the hospital you can find him outside running in forest trails or out on the water kayaking.
Janice Edwards is a Winnipeg-based Community Health Specialist with a Masters of Arts degree in Community Development from North Dakota State University. She currently works in public engagement as Manager of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s Local Health Involvement Groups. Janice specializes in community capacity building and is passionate about engaging community members in learning about and understanding community issues that affect their lives.
Janice joined Diabetes Canada in 2013 as a volunteer, shortly after the passing of her younger sister Natalie to complications of tType 1 diabetes. She served two terms as Manitoba-Nunavut chair, participated on the advocacy committee, and has shared Natalie’s story at numerous public events. By sharing Natalie’s story, Janice hopes that her sisters lived experience, inclusive of triumphs and challenges, can benefit youth who live with the disease, families, health-care providers, and decision-makers across various levels of government.
Brenda is a Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator with interests in insulin pumps and technology. She currently works in Winnipeg at the Youville Diabetes Centre with young adults transitioning from pediatric to adult care.
She has lived with the unpredictability of type 1 diabetes for over 35 years. She volunteers her time with Diabetes Canada she enjoys spending time and with her husband and 2 adult children.
Jillian Creagh, CDE , is a Diabetes Nurse Educator at BC Children’s Hospital. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Langara College and has worked at BC Children’s in multiple capacities since 2015 including working on the surgical and neuroscience unit prior to moving into the diabetes clinic. She was diagnosed with tType 1 diabetes in 2002, two weeks before her 11th birthday.
She attended Diabetes Canada D-Camps on the Sunshine Coast at Camp Kakhamela for five years during her teenage years and has had the pleasure of coming back full circle as a staff member with Diabetes Canada through Camp Kakhamela starting in 2009.
She has worked in various roles beginning as a midnight rambler, student nurse, and finally as a camp nurse. In Jillian’s free time she enjoys player soccer, hiking, and baking.
Dr Ting-Yu Wang have completed her medical training and specialty in Endocrinology & Metabolism at McGill University. After her training, she pursued a Masters in Science of Epidemiology at McGill University.
She is currently working at St-jean-sur-Richelieu, LMC Glen and Montreal Chinese Hospital.
Dr Wang is committed to treating patients in all areas of endocrinology and metabolism and is also doing clinical research in diabetes.
Yassamin is a Registered Dietitian and a Certified Diabetes Educator working at Lakeridge Health hospital. She received her Honours Bachelor of Science in nutrition from the University of Toronto and her Masters in nutritional biochemistry and lipid metabolism from Tufts University. She completed her dietetic internship at Sunnybrook hospital.
Yassamin has over 16 years of experience working in nephrology and diabetes. Her experience includes working in long-term care, public speaking, working with both print and digital media as well as live TV, teaching, and providing nutrition workshops to various groups. Yassamin is highly committed to helping her clients learn the role nutrition plays in disease prevention and management.
Dr. Stephanie Michaud received her certification in Pediatrics and subsequently Endocrinology and Metabolism from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Michaud obtained her medical degree with special distinction at Sherbrooke University. She went on to complete her training in Pediatric Endocrinology at the Saskatoon Royal University Hospital and the St-Justine University Health Center. She subsequently completed her fellowship in adult endocrinology at the McGill University Health Center.
Her area of interest is diabetes care with a particular focus on young adults. She is particularly interested in the application of technology to improve patient care and quality of life. She is currently the Head of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Service at Charles LeMoyne Hospital, and a Clinical Professor at Sherbrooke University. She is a part-time faculty lecturer at McGill University Health Center where she provides care to young adults with diabetes.
Dr. Anastasia Pimenova has had a life-long passion for improving health and standards of care for Type 1 patients. Drawn to the health sciences from an early age, Dr. Pimenova decided to pursue the Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Toronto. She became a licensed pharmacist in 2019 and continues to practice in the community where she focuses on optimizing diabetes therapy, while also working in health analytics. In her spare time, she practices heavy weightlifting, trains her Australian Shepherd and is an avid reader of sci-fi.
Ryan has had type 1 diabetes since he was 7 years old. He has lived with diabetic Retinopathy for the past 10 years
A graduate from Spring Arbor University in Jackson, Michigan as well as the University of Michigan and Mohawk College, . hHe is the Program Lead for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) for the Ontario North and West regions. He has a daughter named Abigail who is set to turn 2 in June and a guide dog named Joe. Ryan along with many organizations are advocating for there to be an accessible insulin pump produced and put on the market.
Joanne Lewis is a registered dietitian and Director of Health-care Provider Education and Engagement at Diabetes Canada where she has worked for more than seven years to help Canadians receive the best information possible.
She is involved in developing resources and programs related to diabetes care and management, as well as the dissemination of the Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines. Joanne has several years’ experience practising as a registered dietitian in diabetes clinical settings where she worked closely with patients and their families in managing their diabetes.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1973 one month before heading off to university. Karen likes to say she was diagnosed and lived in the age before the technology age. It was certainly challenging. She has experienced the lows and highs of living with diabetes, yet she worked for 44 years as a pharmacist in both community and hospital settings. She was the first CDE.
Pharmacist in NB and the first pharmacist to work at the Diabetic Clinic in her hospital. She loves to teach and enjoys helping people not only with diabetes but other associated illnesses.
Karen has spoken on diabetes at provincial and national pharmacy conferences. She has been a member of Diabetes Canada since her diagnosis and continues to read the journals cover to cover. She states there is always something to learn and it gives me the opportunity to share some of my knowledge. She writes a blog to communicate with the public on diabetes: https://karenmaccurdy.wixsite.com/diabetes
Karen has always been active and her newest sport is pickleball. She monitors her sugars several times a day and has always maintained her appointments at the diabetes clinic.
Karen started to work at The Moncton Hospital in 1987 and soon became the first pharmacist to start teaching at the Diabetes Clinic.
Karen served a term on the editorial board of the now known Diabetes Communicator and has published some articles on diabetes. Karen feels the introduction of the blood glucose monitors was one of the best inventions to help people manage their diabetes.
Karen has never been shy about her diabetes and has made her friends and colleagues aware of her diabetes and what to do in case of hypoglycemia reactions. She feels very thankful for always having support from her family, friends and colleagues. Diabetes is nothing to be ashamed about and you have to share your experiences with others to help learn yourself.
She is hoping she will reach the 50-year mark in July, 2023.
Karen values the work that Diabetes Canada does and for years was a canvasser in the month of November.
My advice to all patients with diabetes is to know as much as you can as you want to be in control. Accept advice from professionals and your health-care team since everyone’s disease is a bit different.
Twenty-seven-year-old Tristan Banyay was born and & raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, comes from a family of six, and is presently a Youth Care Worker who works for Saskatchewan Health Authority on the Child & Adolescent Unit at the Irene and Leslie Dube Centre for Mental Health located at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.
Tristan has his Diploma and Certificate of Youth Care Worker from Saskatchewan Polytechnic (Saskatoon Campus) and has a Certification in Critical Incident Stress Management (CCISM).
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of nine, Tristan uses an insulin pump, and has volunteered with Diabetes Canada since the summer of 2010. He has assisted and volunteered with many different programs & services that Diabetes Canada offers, such as, Advocacy and D-Camps, as well as helping by speaking at, and organize & plan special events. Tristan remains a strong ambassador and youth leader and was the recipient of both Diabetes Canada’s 2011 Northern Saskatchewan Reginal & 2012 National Young Volunteer of the Year Awards.
Diana Provenzano, is a Chartered Professional Accountant providing financial and tax planning services to individuals and entrepreneurs. Successfully assists clients with their disability tax credit applications.
A past Board Member of Diabetes Canada, advocates for improvements in diabetes care, provincially and federally, a member of the 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines, a committee member of the Peer Connect programs for Type 1 and Type 2. Recipient of various awards for community service and a highlight, Diabetes Canada, Bold & Audacious Achievement Award for 2017.
I have lived with type 1 for 41 years, love to travel, explore the outdoors, hike, and cycle, with family and friends.
Dr. Vallis is a registered health psychologist based in Halifax, Canada. He is a Health Behaviour Change Consultant and Associate Professor in Family Medicine at Dalhousie University. His main area of expertise is adult health psychology, with an emphasis on obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular risk and gastroenterology. He spends most of his time training health-care providers in behaviour change for chronic disease management. He regularly supervises clinical and academic students at Dalhousie and is active in research on motivation, behavioural change and adaptation to chronic disease.
He consults nationally as well as internationally and is heavily involved in academic publications, journal editing, and clinical practice guidelines (2020 and 2006 Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Obesity and 2018, 2013, 2004 Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines). He was recently awarded a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Government of Canada on the recommendation of Diabetes Canada.
Dr. Stephanie Michaud received her certification in Pediatrics and subsequently Endocrinology and Metabolism from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Dr. Michaud obtained her medical degree with special distinction at Sherbrooke University. She went on to complete her training in Pediatric Endocrinology at the Saskatoon Royal University Hospital and the St-Justine University Health Center. She subsequently completed her fellowship in adult endocrinology at the McGill University Health Center.
Her area of interest is diabetes care with a particular focus on young adults. She is particularly interested in the application of technology to improve patient care and quality of life. She is currently the Head of the Endocrinology and Metabolism Service at Charles LeMoyne Hospital, and a Clinical Professor at Sherbrooke University. She is a part-time faculty lecturer at McGill University Health Center where she provides care to young adults with diabetes.
Bruce Verchere PhD is a Professor in the UBC Depts of Surgery and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, investigator in the Childhood Diabetes Laboratories at BC Children’s Hospital, and Director of the UBC Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics. His research focuses on pancreatic beta cells with the goal of developing therapeutic approaches to enhance beta cell function in diabetes. He has made significant contributions to understanding the triggers of beta cell dysfunction in diabetes and identification of disease biomarkers. He was awarded the Diabetes Canada Young Scientist Award in 2006, a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal for diabetes research and service in 2012, and a Distinguished Achievement Award from the UBC Faculty of Medicine in 2018. He has served on the Diabetes Canada Board of Directors and National Research Council, and the Institute Advisory Board of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes.
Dr. Anastasia Pimenova has a life-long passion for improving health and standards of care for tType 1 patients. She was diagnosed at the age of one in Moscow, Russia, where access to even expired insulin and test strips was limited at the time.
Drawn to the health sciences from an early age, Dr. Pimenova decided to pursue the Doctor of Pharmacy degree at the University of Toronto. She became a licensed pharmacist in 2019 and continues to practice in the community where she focuses on optimizing diabetes therapy, while also working in health analytics. In her spare time, she practices heavy weightlifting, trains her Australian Shepherd and is an avid reader of sci-fi.
Dr. Dina Panagiotopoulos is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia, and Endocrinologist at BC Children’s Hospital. Her research spans both the prediction, prevention and optimal treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in childhood.
Yassamin Gharaj is a Registered Dietician and Certified Diabetes Educator working at Lakeridge Health Hospital. She has over 15 years of experience working in nephrology and diabetes, and is an instructor at the Food and Nutrition Management program at Humber College.
Her experience includes working in long-term care, public speaking, working with both print and digital media, and providing nutrition workshops to various groups. She has been featured on Rogers TV, Daytime Durham, DurhamRegion.com, and more recently in the autumn 2015 issue of the Diabetes Dialogue magazine. She highly committed to helping her clients learn the role nutrition plays in disease prevention and management.
Ascensia Diabetes Care is a global specialist diabetes care company, dedicated to helping people living with diabetes. Our mission is to empower people living with diabetes through innovative solutions that simplify and improve their lives. We use our innovation and specialist expertise in diabetes to develop high quality solutions and tools that make a positive, daily difference for people with diabetes.
Home to the world-renowned CONTOUR® portfolio of blood glucose monitoring systems, our products combine advanced technology with user-friendly functionality that help people with diabetes to manage their condition. We are committed to continued research, innovation and development of new products and solutions. As a trusted partner in the diabetes community, we collaborate closely with healthcare professionals and other partners to ensure our products meet the highest standards of accuracy, precision and reliability, and that we conduct our business compliantly and with integrity.
For further information, please visit the Ascensia Diabetes Care website at: http://www.ascensia.com
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 107,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Eli Lilly Canada is pleased to announce the availability of Baqsimi® (glucagon nasal powder 3 mg), a new rescue treatment for severe hypoglycemia. Baqsimi® was approved by Health Canada with ethical status, making it available at the pharmacy with or without a prescription. Baqsimi® is a compact nasal spray that is portable and does not require reconstitution. It is now widely available in pharmacies across Canada.
Baqsimi® is indicated for the treatment of severe hypoglycemic reactions when impaired consciousness precludes oral carbohydrates, which may occur in the management of insulin-treated patients with diabetes mellitus, whether Type 1 or Type 2.
Eli Lilly and Company is a global healthcare leader that unites caring with discovery to make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by Colonel Eli Lilly, who was committed to creating high quality medicines that meet people’s needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to people who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and contribute to our communities through philanthropy and volunteerism.
At Janssen, we’re creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We’re the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity, and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology, and Pulmonary Hypertension.
Chez Janssen, nous bâtissons un avenir où la maladie fait partie du passé. Nous sommes Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, œuvrant sans relâche afin que ce futur devienne une réalité pour les patients partout dans le monde en luttant contre la maladie à l’aide de la science, en améliorant l’accès à force d’ingéniosité et en sauvant du désespoir avec cœur. Nous concentrons nos efforts sur les domaines de la médecine où nous pouvons améliorer le plus la vie des patients: maladie
Mednow is a national virtual health services provider. Leading with a virtual on-demand pharmacy offering, Mednow uses its central fulfillment centers to quickly and safely deliver essential medication and other pharmacy products to Canadian homes and businesses from coast-to-coast.
Its digital platform acts as a powerful patient data aggregation tool connecting to pharmacy management systems, electronic medical record software, and user-reported data. This enables Mednow to have a holistic view of each and every one of its patients to best care for them.
Mednow has strived to build a complete ecosystem of health services around its full-service pharmacy including telemedicine, remote patient monitoring and home health care. This enables its customers to deal with a single point of contact who acts as an advocate and navigator for their health needs.
Mednow’s therapeutic focus on Diabetes Care comes from its mission statement of “We’re about People, not Pills”, and the belief that to truly care for a pharmacy patient, our pharmacists must have a holistic understanding of a patient’s care journey. For Diabetes, this includes more than just medication and it includes the management of various lifestyle adjustments such as diet and exercise which’s much more workable with our holistic offering. Furthermore, our ability to standardize an offering across Canada ensures all of our patients consistently get the care that they need and deserve.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly-innovative medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Diseases, Neuroscience and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries. For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com
Live Saturday October 15th, 2022
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDTSaturday October 15th, 2022, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EDT
On Demand until January 15th, 2023
Virtual! Join from anywhere in the country! Attend this event without leaving the comfort of your own home.
Complimentary
All presentations are in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)
Agenda subject to change, please check back regularly for more topics and speakers
Kaleb Dahlgren is a student, athlete, author and community leader. As a member of the Humboldt Broncos, he was part of the tragedy on April 6, 2018 that changed his life forever. Once he recovered, Kaleb returned to the ice to play for York University’s varsity hockey team. While at York, he earned a Bachelor of Commerce degree graduating Magna Cum Laude, and Varsity Athletics Male Graduate of the Year in April 2021. Currently, Kaleb is studying to become a Doctor of Chiropractic. Outside of his education, Kaleb is dedicated to helping others, whether that's through sharing his story or through his community volunteer work. He is the founder of Dahlgren’s Diabeauties, a mentorship program designed in 2017 to give back to children with type 1 diabetes. Through this program, he is able to raise awareness, support, and guidance to his community of Diabeauties. Kaleb is also the recipient of: the Canadian Volunteer Award for Emerging Leader of the Prairies, National JDRF Young Volunteer of the Year award, and dozens of other accolades for his community service.
No matter the circumstance, Kaleb has lived by a select set of trusted principles. These principles reflect his ingrained values and positive approach to life's challenges. Kaleb's vibrant personality and positive outlook on life have helped him achieve his goals. His experiences and hardships have shaped him to become a great leader, on and off the ice. In this keynote, Kaleb presents the importance of holding yourself accountable in order to achieve your goals. When you believe in yourself and you hold yourself accountable, you can reach greatness, even in the face of tragedy.
Kate has been heavily involved in the diabetes community since her daughter Sydney was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 8. With a background in information technology and graphic design, Kate has lent her skillset to developing diabetes watch faces for remote monitoring used by people with diabetes worldwide. Kate has created numerous online patient-driven support communities for people who live with or care for people living with diabetes, looking for solutions to monitor themselves or their loved ones remotely and continues to advocate for all people with diabetes to have access to the best tools to manage their diabetes.
Kate will walk you through the evolution of remote monitoring for type 1 diabetes and share all off the innovative ways to integrate these solutions into your everyday lives.
Jane Yardley, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Physical Education at the University of Alberta’s Augustana Faculty in Camrose, Alberta, and a member of the Alberta Diabetes Institute. She is a co-author of the 2016 American Diabetes Association Consensus Statement on Exercise and Physical Activity in diabetes, and a recipient of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Alberta New Investigator Award. Jane’s earlier work focused on blood glucose responses to resistance exercise, and the impact of exercise in fasted state. Her recent work has focused on sex and gender-related differences in exercise behaviours and blood glucose responses to exercise in people with type 1 diabetes.
This presentation will describe some of the basics of exercise physiology to create an understanding of fuel storage and fuel selection during exercise. It will also provide some evidence-based advice on insulin adjustments and carbohydrate intake before, during, and after activity to prevent exercise-related highs and lows. Finally, some potential tips and tricks for preventing exercise-induced hypoglycemia not related to insulin or carbohydrates will be provided.
Bruce Perkins is Professor, Endocrinologist, Epidemiologist, and Clinician-Scientist at the UofT Faculty of Medicine and IHPME. He holds the Sam and Judy Pencer Family Chair in Diabetes Clinical Research. His research platform, research leadership, clinical practice, and advocacy work has focused entirely on strategies to improve the lives of those, like himself, living with type 1 diabetes. Using cohort and trial methods, his research has focused on 1) Early biomarkers and mechanisms of diabetes complications, and 2) complications prevention through artificial pancreas technologies and add-on-to-insulin drug therapies. Among leadership in other projects funded by CIHR, NIH, and JDRF, he sits on the Executive of the historic but ongoing “DCCT/EDIC” Study, and co-leads the Innovations in Type 1 Diabetes Goal Group within Diabetes Action Canada, a national patient-oriented research strategy. He has been awarded the Canadian Diabetes Association/CIHR Young Scientist Award, and the Gerald Wong Service Award from Diabetes Canada, for his research and advocacy.
Many of us with type 1 diabetes struggle to reach our targets for blood sugar control, and are therefore unfortunately putting ourselves at risk of long-term diabetes complications. To me, it seems unfair that drugs that have transformed care of people with type 2 diabetes would not be considered as add-on therapy to insulin in those with type 1. Many drugs have been investigated in research trials in people with type 1 and I intend to outline this history, and what we can learn from it. In other countries, some medications like "amylin analogues" and "sodium-glucose linked transporter inhibitors (SGLTi)" have been approved in type 1, and major research is defining the role of adding "glucagon" to automated insulin delivery (a.k.a. hybrid closed loop) systems. My intention is to give you a snapshot of the extensive research into many drugs such as these, and most importantly, help you to understand which may make the most sense and why.
Dr. Ilana Halperin is a full-time staff physician and assistant professor as a Clinician in Quality and Innovation. Dr. Halperin has a BSc from McGill University, an MD from the University of Western Ontario; she completed internal medicine and endocrinology training at the University of Toronto and an MSc in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the Institute for Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto. She was an early adopter of digital tools and virtual care and is the physician lead for the digital and virtual health at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where she practices. She has a large T1D practice with a special interest in young adults and pregnant women and has been recognized as a national expert in the integration of diabetes technology into virtual care. She spends a lot of time educating other health care professionals on the unique challenges of T1D and is keenly aware of the link between mental wellness and diabetes distress. She is also a busy mom to two athletic boys and enjoys working as a doctor at D-Camps every summer.
Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley is a Registered Clinical Psychologist in BC, AB, ON and NS. She is the director of Dr. Lee-Baggley and Associates, a virtual health psychology clinic specializing in clinical interventions, training for healthcare providers, and research in health-related issues (e.g., chronic pain, sleep, COVID burnout, PTSD for frontline workers). She also conducts research as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, with a cross appointment in the Department of Psychology & Neuroscience at Dalhousie University and an Adjunct Professor appointment in the Department of Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Saint Mary’s University. She has an active research program on behaviour change, obesity, chronic disease, professional resiliency, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Lee-Baggley has over 45 peer-reviewed publications and over 130 scholarly presentations. She is an internationally recognized trainer in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and a certified therapist in Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples. She is the author of the book Healthy Habits Suck: How to Get Off the Couch & Live a Healthy Life…Even If You Don’t Want To.
Kylie Peacock (she/her) has lived with chronic conditions, including diabetes, for over 20 years of her life. She has been an advocate for diabetes mental health services, access to technology and care, and coordination, integration, and ownership of healthcare data. These conditions shaped Kylie’s childhood and continue to impact her everyday life as an adult. These past and current lived experiences drive her passion for patient-centered design and care in every aspect of the healthcare system. This passion motivates her to advocate for inclusion of the patient voice in healthcare system design, innovation, and improvement.
Over the years, Kylie’s health journey has provided her with the opportunity to add her lived experiences to help inform aspects of healthcare research and development. Her experiences of living with multiple chronic conditions and having to navigate the healthcare system have been positive and negative at times, but each interaction with the system has encouraged her to advocate for better healthcare design, implementation, and care for all.
Kylie has been involved in a wide range of national and international academic, non-profit, and industry-led projects, boards, and committees, and has contributed to numerous published papers, conference presentations, and posters.
Kylie grew up in Guelph, Ontario, but after completing her undergraduate and master’s degrees in History at Dalhousie University, lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Outside of her work as a Clinical Research Project Manager for vaccine trials, she enjoys reading, exercising, and baking.
A discussion from the point-of-view of an endocrinologist, a psychologist and an individual living with type 1 diabetes in the style of a fireside chat; sharing and validation of the challenges of the pandemic and strategies for maintaining and rebuilding mental wellness with type 1 diabetes post-COVID.
Teri Currie has been a certified diabetes educator since 1995. When completing her preceptorship of nursing school, she was diagnosed with T1D, ultimately changing the direction of her nursing career. After graduation she became a volunteer at the local CDA (Canadian Diabetes Association) and later got involved in Diabetes Research when her son was screened for the DPT1 study at age 5 and had antibodies; ultimately getting T1D at age 12. Her clinical experience has entailed both Type 1 and Type 2 education, pediatric diabetes, as well as diabetes in pregnancy. Teri is very passionate about technology and has always been an early adopter. She became an insulin pump trainer in 1998 after being trained on her first insulin pump exclusively by a video cassette tape. She has worked as a staff diabetes educator, clinical practice leader, and PCC in Fraser Health and at BCCH/Provincial Health, and is currently working as a Clinical Diabetes Specialist with Tandem Diabetes Care. Teri's work has involved speaking at conferences/workshops in British Columbia, where she resides, on technology, insulin adjustment, and pediatric transition. She was a member of the 1st (2009) and 2nd (2021) working groups that developed and later updated The Provincial (BC) Insulin Dose Adjustment Framework for Registered Nurses. Lastly, Teri has worked as part of the medical staff at D-Camp's Camp Kakhamela in BC for 17 years in various roles including Nurse Coordinator her last 4 years, and was honoured to receive the Camp Award.
This presentation will explore the real-world experiences of people with T1D; some diagnosed as children and others diagnosed as adults. We will examine how each person with diabetes has a different experience through different times within their T1D journey. We will also review information on perceived pros and cons, and the benefits to disclosure in the health and advocacy spaces.
Dr. Francis Lynn obtained his PhD in Physiology from the University of British Columbia in 2003. Following this he moved to San Francisco supported by JDRF Postdoctoral and Advanced Postdoctoral Fellowships with Michael German. Francis was recruited to the BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute in 2009 and is an Associate Professor in the UBC Department of Surgery and a Founding Member of the UBC School of Biomedical Engineering. Francis has been supported by the Goepel Family/ Diabetes Canada Young Investigator Award in Islet Cell Development; the JDRF Alan Permutt Career Development Award, and a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Sciences Scholar Award. Dr. Lynn’s work has led to the publication of 47 highly-cited articles in top journals including Diabetes, Developmental Cell, PNAS, Nature and Nature Medicine. The Lynn Lab currently has 9 members and is funded by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the JDRF and Diabetes Canada. Research is focused on understanding how we can improve the in-vitro development of cell-based therapies for diabetes by taking cues from embryonic development. For more information, please see betacell.ca.
Learn more about exciting recent advancements in stem cell research, what this research really means, and how it can affect the future of T1D management.
Gabrielle is a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, pump trainer and the clinical lead with LMC Diabetes & Endocrinology. She volunteers with Diabetes Canada for the Peer Connect Program, JDRF and CHEO to help bridge the gap between diabetes care and youth living with T1D. Gabrielle presents on emerging technologies for health care providers and for community events. She also writes articles and blogs for various organizations, including Diabetes Canada's Diabetes Communicator. Gabrielle has been living with T1D for over 2 decades and is passionate about driving change from a health care provider approach to help empower all people living with diabetes.
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1993, pump user since 2010, lost vision overnight in 2011 from Diabetes Retinopathy. Guide dog handler and father of 3-year-old little girl. Loves to advocate for those living with type 1 diabetes and family members of those affected by type 1 diabetes. Ryan is passionate about bringing an accessible insulin pump to the market. Graduated with a Public Relations and Marketing degree from Spring Arbor University in Jackson, Michigan in 2008. He studied Sociology at the University of Windsor in 2011, and Volunteer Management and Coordination from Mohawk College in 2013.
Caroline LeBlanc is a Registered Nurse (Masters prepared) and Certified Diabetes Educator with over a decade of experience in progressive roles in health care. She is an expert in diabetes and is passionate about helping patients live fulfilling lives while juggling the rigours of chronic disease. She brings a personal perspective to her care, having lived with type 1 diabetes for the past 23 years. Born, raised, and trained in Toronto, ON, Caroline has recently uprooted to Prince Edward Island. She currently works as a Diabetes Educator in Charlottetown. Caroline plans to complete her Nurse Practitioner certificate to further assist with health care access on the island.
Discussion about the lived experiences of three people with different life events/transition times and how they managed their type 1 diabetes in the midst of these; features stories, personal perspectives and anecdotal advice.
Alanna Chambers is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator from Kelowna, BC. Since completing her training at McGill University, she has focused her career on type 1 diabetes and technology. She spent nearly 10 years in the insulin pump industry, has worked with her local diabetes program, and is now focused on insulin pump and CGM education. She is a dynamic speaker known nationwide for blending current evidence with practical pearls. Having lived with type 1 diabetes since childhood, she understands that daily management takes just as much creativity and art as science. Her goal is to help life with type 1 diabetes feel even just a bit better. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her husband and three girls.
“I did the same thing, ate the same thing, took the same insulin, so WHY IS MY GLUCOSE different?"
This session will unpack factors that may be contributing to your glucose variability and will explore practical tips to help flatten the roller coaster of high and low glucose levels.
Alanna Chambers is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator from Kelowna, BC. Since completing her training at McGill University, she has focused her career on type 1 diabetes and technology. She spent nearly 10 years in the insulin pump industry, has worked with her local diabetes program, and is now focused on insulin pump and CGM education. She is a dynamic speaker known nationwide for blending current evidence with practical pearls. Having lived with type 1 diabetes since childhood, she understands that daily management takes just as much creativity and art as science. Her goal is to help life with type 1 diabetes feel even just a bit better. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her husband and three girls.
Dr. Tricia Tang is an Associate Professor in the UBC Division of Endocrinology and one of the few registered clinical psychologists in Canada with an expertise in type 1 diabetes. Her program of research focuses on using technology and peer support to improve mental health outcomes in the type 1 community. She is currently conducting a JDRF-sponsored research study that is piloting T1D REACHOUT, a virtual care platform that delivers peer-led mental health support to adults with type 1, living in rural and remote communities. REACHOUT NexGEN translates this platform to adolescents with type 1. Finally, Dr. Tang leads Huddle4Parents, a digital mental health support intervention for parents of children ages 5-9 living with type 1. With regard to her community service initiatives, Dr. Tang founded the T1D Huddle, a grass roots organization that provides free emotional and peer support to BC’s type 1 community (T1Dhuddle.com).
This presentation will introduce the concept of peer support and the role peer support plays in the type 1 diabetes community. It will provide examples of peer support initiatives (T1D Huddle, Huddle Big Brother/Big Sister) in British Columbia as well as describe research investigations that use technology to "drive" peer-led mental health support to children (and parents), adolescents, adults with type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Tricia Tang is an Associate Professor in the UBC Division of Endocrinology and one of the few registered clinical psychologists in Canada with an expertise in type 1 diabetes. Her program of research focuses on using technology and peer support to improve mental health outcomes in the type 1 community. She is currently conducting a JDRF-sponsored research study that is piloting T1D REACHOUT, a virtual care platform that delivers peer-led mental health support to adults with type 1, living in rural and remote communities. REACHOUT NexGEN translates this platform to adolescents with type 1. Finally, Dr. Tang leads Huddle4Parents, a digital mental health support intervention for parents of children ages 5-9 living with type 1. With regard to her community service initiatives, Dr. Tang founded the T1D Huddle, a grass roots organization that provides free emotional and peer support to BC’s type 1 community (T1Dhuddle.com).
Nicole Byrom is the Registered Dietitian with the Canadian Celiac Association. Nicole also works with Vancouver Coastal Health in the Chronic Disease Management division. Nicole resides in North Vancouver, BC and lives with her family including three children, two cats and a dog. Nicole’s journey with celiac disease began with her mother’s diagnosis, shortly followed by both her daughter and husband’s diagnoses.
Information about the gluten-free diet for people with type 1 diabetes who may live with celiac disease or have a gluten intolerance, including a gluten-free recipe demo.
Dr. Cheng is an Endocrinologist at Trillium Health Partners and Unity Health Toronto, and an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. She has been involved with the development of the Diabetes Canada clinical practice guidelines since 2003 and served as Chair for the 2013 version. She is serving on the Editorial Board for the Canadian Journal of Diabetes and is the immediate Past-Chair of the Professional Section of Diabetes Canada. She is also serving as Chair of the Scientific Planning Committee for the 2023 and 2024 American Diabetes Association annual scientific meetings, which is the largest international diabetes conference in the world. In recognition of her contribution to the diabetes community, she has received the national Charles H. Best Award and the Gerald S. Wong Service Award from Diabetes Canada. She is also the creator of The Med Ed Pledge – an initiative to increase Diversity & Inclusion in continuing medical education (theMedEdPledge.com)
This short presentation will provide an overview of perimenopause and menopause, and discuss the impact of this life stage on blood glucose levels and the diabetes experience. Some practical suggestions will also be provided.
Siva Swaminathan is the Executive Chair and one of the founding members of the Diabetes Canada South Asian Diabetes Chapter in Toronto.
After being in the IT field for 12 years, she decided to pursue her dream of being a chef by attending the George Brown Culinary program, where she worked with many Canadian top chefs. She apprenticed in Germany and Switzerland for two years and now operates ChezSiva Cooking School, which offers a variety of cooking classes and services. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 16 years ago, and has been using her culinary skills to develop low GI, healthy meal plans for people with diabetes.
Siva has been a volunteer with Diabetes Canada since 2006, where she organizes and presents information sessions on diabetes prevention and management for the South Asian and type 1 community. Siva has also been the driving force behind several diabetes expos for the South Asian community and played a key role in developing culturally relevant patient literature. Siva has won a number of awards for her work within the diabetes community and is now working on her next dream, which is authoring a cookbook.
General information about healthy South Asian foods and meal planning, including a recipe demo.
My name is Sydney Brehaut, and I am a Registered Massage Therapist living in Halifax, Nova Scotia (originally from PEI). At age 26, in the spring of 2021 I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. My diagnosis came as a shock. Growing up I had always heard that type 1 diabetes happened early on in life, when I started to notice symptoms I never would have imagined that it was type 1 diabetes. Throughout the last year I have learned so much about managing this disease in many facets of my life. I play linebacker for the Halifax Xplosion Women’s Tackle Football Team, continue to actively lift weights, and do yoga in my spare time! I try my best to not let my diagnosis slow me down from the things I love.
This presentation will outline my diagnosis, initial reaction, and journey through understanding how to deal with type 1 diabetes as an adult. I’ll discuss my nutrition, what works for me, what I have learned, and how my background and education was beneficial to the diagnosis. I’ll discuss some tips and tricks for the active type 1, and describe some challenges I have faced and overcome.
Vanita is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and Certified insulin pump trainer.
She has been practicing as a dietitian for over 20 years.
For over a decade she has been involved in clinical and research activities in the Diabetes clinic at the Hospital for Sick Children.
She was awarded the Banting and Best Diabetes Educator of the Year Award in 2019.
She is passionate about helping people improve their lifestyle and optimizing their nutrition and diabetes management.
As a Diabetes Canada Board, Committee and Leadership Team Member she collaborates and works together with other key community members to improve the quality of life of people living with diabetes.
She likes cooking and trying out new recipes and enjoys long walks with her dog.
General information about artificial sweeteners, interesting developments in research, and evidence-based recommendations for people with type 1 diabetes.
Diana Provenzano is a Chartered Professional Accountant, having obtained her Chartered Accountant designation in 1983. She was an executive at various multi-national organizations until she started her own consulting practice. Since 1996 she has provided financial and tax planning services to individuals, entrepreneurs and to non-profit and for-profit companies. Her practice currently addresses individual client needs with a focus on minimizing tax, planning for retirement, and reducing estate taxes. Diana has over 40 years of leadership and community experience. She volunteers extensively in the community, assisting special and low-income sectors to understand their tax benefits. Diana has held various volunteer roles for Diabetes Canada including past board member, chair of the audit, investment, risk committee, member of the compensation and human resource committee, type 1 representative for the clinical practice guidelines, and co-chair of various type 1 events. Diana has been living a full life with type 1 diabetes for over 42 years.
To highlight the ease with applying or reapplying for the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) after June 24, 2022, to help you offset the diabetes cost burden. A person living with type 1 may incur costs of up to $15,000 annually to manage their illness. The DTC provides you an annual tax benefit of approximately $2000. Once the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) approves your DTC application you will also learn the importance of establishing a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP). The presentation will outline the benefits associated with having a Registered Disability Savings plan. How easy it is to receive up to $90,000 from the government in grants and bonds to help with your retirement. A list of other tax programs and tax credits where you may receive enhanced benefits, as a result of having an approved Disability Tax Credit, will also presented.
Carrie Lundy began her personal Yoga practice in 2006 and completed her first Teacher Training in India in 2009, the same year she graduated as an Early Years classroom teacher. Since then, she has been passionate about sharing her learning with children and adults alike. Trained in Modo, Flow, and Yin, Carrie enjoys guiding breathwork, meditation, and introspective physical practices rooted in self-compassion, love, and the heart space. She believes that Yoga is an accessible practice that can support any body in experiencing wellness and peace.
This beginner-friendly 25-minute practice includes an opening breathing exercise as well as several supportive yoga postures in order to support those living with diabetes. The goal of the sequence is to help improve overall quality of life by opening and massaging the body into calming the nervous system, lowering blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and improving circulation.
*** Helpful supports: yoga mat, rolled up blanket, pillow or bolster, and yoga blocks or hardcover books. A chair can be used for the opening breathing exercise, and the final posture requires a wall space.
Kathleen LaForme is of both Mohawk of Six Nations and Mississaugas of New Credit First Nations. She is the mother of 2 daughters, a son, and is a grandmother. She is the Diabetes Wellness Coordinator for the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle (formerly SOADI), South Region for 20 years. Kathleen has many family members and friends who are living with diabetes, and upon learning that diabetes was becoming an epidemic among Indigenous Peoples, knew that she had to do something to help stop this. She strives to do her best in promoting diabetes awareness and prevention among Indigenous Peoples not only through IDHC, but also among family, friends, and community.
Laura Lenson has lived in the Niagara Region for her entire life. She is very proud of her Indigenous heritage from Six Nations.
She graduated from Brock University in 1987 with a BA, Music Major but her passion was always cooking. She made the decision to follow that passion and in 2006 enrolled in a personal chef course through United States/Canadian Personal Chef Association at the Culinary Business Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico. When her training was completed, she opened her personal chef service, Laura’s Custom Cuisine.
After working with private clients, Laura became the caterer for the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle (formerly SOADI). She has been cooking diabetes-friendly meals for meetings and training sessions and providing healthy lunches with budget friendly recipes for IDHC’s Healthy Lifestyle Fridays and Wellness Wednesdays.
She has catered for many organizations in the Niagara Region such as the Niagara Regional Native Centre, Niagara Peninsula Area Aboriginal Management Board (NPAAMB) programming at Niagara College, catered the VIP Reception for Celebration of Nations and the opening night reception for “Opening the Doors to Dialogue” exhibit at the Niagara Falls Museum. She also facilitated a lunch and cooking skills program for Bethlehem Housing in Niagara Falls and Soaring Eagles School Secondary School.
She attended the Fourth Annual Conference on Native American Nutrition to learn more about traditional foods to incorporate into her cooking sessions.
We are told to eat healthy all our lives, but what is eating healthy? We will share traditional ways of what that is and how to reconnect with our food and Mother Earth.
Laura will provide a cooking demo using traditional foods - Fish & Wild Rice Bundles.
Crystal Bomberry is from the Mohawk Nation-Turtle Clan of the Haudenosaunee, and a proud community member of Six Nations of the Grand River First Nations Territory in Southern Ontario. She values her many family and community relationships in addition to her role with the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle as a Community Knowledge and Partnership Worker since 2009. During this time and beyond, she has found great value and contentment in her work around diabetes prevention and holistic health promotion. With additional certifications in Personal Training, Healthy Eating, Yoga, and Mindfulness, she has a deep passion for promoting the profound benefits of engaging a holistically balanced lifestyle. The Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle approach combines Western diabetes knowledge with traditional wisdom and Indigenous influences.
Integrating Western knowledge and traditional wisdom, IDHC programs and services aim to promote diabetes wellness through self-care of spirit, mind, emotion, and body for holistic balance. Diabetes is viewed through a cultural perspective and understanding.
Reclaiming lost knowledge empowers an individual to enhance their sense of identity and foster self-love. This is a sacred responsibility that ripples out to our families, communities, and Mother Earth. Encouraging ownership of health and wellness helps in motivating participants to learn or relearn knowledge and skills that increase their capacity to reduce the incidence of diabetes and its complications.
Amanda Sterczyk is a certified personal trainer, international author, and fitness advocate. She spent more than 10 years as a mobile fitness coach in the Ottawa area. She has worked with men, women, and children of all ages and ability levels. Amanda has written 6 exercise guides and 2 fitness self-help books that are sold around the world.
Sometimes, it can feel like doing the modified version of an exercise is taking the easy route. But that's not the case: in certain situations, modifying an exercise not only reduces the risk of pain and injury, but it can make the movement more effective. These seated exercises will help strengthen your upper and lower body, and increase flexibility in your feet, ankles, and shoulders.
A documentary film created by Lisa Hepner, who lives with type 1 diabetes, that follows a team of researchers and patients on their quest to cure type 1 diabetes.
Professor, UBC Dept of Surgery and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine. Investigator, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute
CPA CA
B.Sc Pharm
MDCM, FRCPC, Msc
Disclaimer: “As a participant in this virtual conference, you hereby acknowledge and agree to the following terms: Diabetes Canada (DC) in no way sponsors or endorses the information shared or presented amongst presenters. Any products and or services presented are in no way promoted or endorsed by DC or its affiliates. Diabetes care and dietary recommendations are strictly for discussion purposes and a physician should be consulted to determine appropriate care tailored to your needs. Any information presented during this event should not be recorded or published, including shared on any social media platforms or any forum outside the virtual conference whatsoever. Sharing this information is prohibited and remains the intellectual property of Diabetes Canada and its affiliates”. DC reserves the right to vary any of the speakers, topics or times without further notice.
This is an online virtual event. You do not have to travel to any specific location. You can participate from the comfort of your own home or anywhere that you have internet access. The event is accessible via your desktop or laptop computer, mobile and tablet device. Wherever possible, we recommend using a desktop or laptop computer for the best user experience.
This is a one-day event which will go LIVE on Saturday, October 15, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
The event is aimed at adults and youth living with type 1 diabetes. It is also a great source of information for those supporting someone with type 1 diabetes (i.e. spouse, child, caregiver, etc.).
Yes, please register via the “REGISTRATION” tab. At this time, you will be asked to provide your personal information. After registering, you should receive an email within 24 hours, confirming you’ve been registered, along with a link to the October 15th live event platform. At that time, you will need to enter your email (same as the one entered during registration) to gain access.
Using your login credentials (this is your email), you can log in as soon as the event goes live on October 15th 10:00 a.m. EDT. Once you log in, you will be taken to the virtual lobby and will be able to view welcome and instructional videos on how to navigate our virtual conference. You will receive a virtual conference bag, which will include a detailed program, as well as additional diabetes related information from our sponsors.
Much like an in-person conference, you will be able to watch presentations in the virtual auditorium and participate in Q&A sessions. There is also an interactive tradeshow where you can visit a variety of diabetes related exhibits and ask questions of company representatives via chat box or schedule a call to speak with a representative.
We will also have an area called the Resource Lounge where you can view a variety of fantastic educational videos that will help you in your journey with T1D.
To add a little more fun to your day, we are also including gamification (i.e. a virtual scavenger hunt, leaderboard) where you can earn points for a chance to win prizes. For more information, visit the Games & Prizes tab.
During the presentation, questions can be typed into the chat box at anytime, however the speaker will wait until the allotted Q&A period at the end of the presentation to answer questions from the audience.
Virtual events bring the experience of an in-person conference to your personal computer, so just like an in-person conference, you have the freedom to pick the sessions you attend. But many say that attending the event in its entirety will help you get the most out of the experience. You will be able to log into the event until January 15, 2023 to watch presentations, visit the exhibitor tradeshow, and watch or download any information. After 5:01 p.m. EDT on October 15, 2022 you will not be able to chat with booth representatives.
No, this event is complimentary!
No, you do not need to download or install any software to participate in our conference. Nor do you need a webcam to take part. You only need to have access to the internet.
For any technical assistance, please contact nolimits@getvfairs.io OR visit our virtual Help Desk depicted in the internal lobby and a vFairs representative will be available to help you.
The vFairs platform includes the following accessibility features:
Diabetes Canada has contracted vFairs to manage registrations for this virtual conference. vFairs is committed to constantly ensuring the use of the latest state-of-the-art technology and procedures at its disposal to guarantee the security of the data hosted. vFairs will comply with the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Model Code and will not use or disclose any person information or data otherwise than in strict accordance with the code.
Contact us via email at info@diabetes.ca or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464) and our call centre staff will get back to you in 1-2 business days.
Erica Sigurdson is a Canadian comedian, writer, producer, and haberdasher. Sigurdson has Icelandic ancestry. She is a two-time Canadian Comedy Award nominee, a Leo Award-winning comedy writer and is regularly featured on CBC Radio’s smash hit The Debaters. She has been performing stand-up across Canada for ten years, has travelled to Afghanistan to entertain the troops and was a semi-finalist in the Seattle International Comedy Competition. She is a nine-time repeat guest on the Maximum Fun show Stop Podcasting Yourself.
Kimberley Hanson is Executive Director of Federal Affairs at Diabetes Canada, responsible for advocacy with the federal government and on national issues. She also leads the Diabetes 360˚ initiative to implement a nation-wide strategy to address the diabetes epidemic.
Having lived with diabetes for nearly 25 years, Kim is passionate about helping others live well with the disease while also working towards a cure. Over the past 15 years, Kim and her family have raised more than $1 million for research into a cure for diabetes and for supports for adults living with type 1 diabetes. Prior to joining Diabetes Canada, Kim held various senior management positions in Communications, Business Development and Human Resources at Payments Canada and Export Development Canada.
Kimberley Hanson Presentation Overview: Living with diabetes can be very expensive. Come learn what government programs may be available to you to help defray the costs, and find out how Diabetes Canada is working to ensure that all Canadians with T1D have access to the care, medications and devices they need to live without limits!
Lorraine is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. She has had the privilege of presenting workshops across Canada to both health care professionals and people who live with type 1 diabetes. Her primary area of interest is to support people in using diabetes technology to optimize management and minimize the daily burden of life with type 1.
When not at work, she is a busy mom and stepmom to six young adults and two golden retrievers. Lorraine celebrated her 32 year “diaversary” in March of last year and understands firsthand the ups and downs of daily life with diabetes.
Michelle Sorensen, founder of the Ottawa South Resiliency Clinic, is a registered clinical psychologist with 20 years of experience providing counselling and psychological services for a wide range of personal problems. These include anxiety and depression, interpersonal issues (both personal and professional), life transitions, and coping with chronic illness. She provides therapy for adults aged 18 and over, including seniors. She is also very involved in the diabetes community across Canada and works with clients struggling with the psychological impact of living with diabetes.
Michelle has been registered with the Ontario College of Psychologists since 2006, first as a Psychological Associate and now as a Psychologist. Michelle is also a member of the Ontario Psychological Association.
Dr. Vallis is a registered health psychologist based in Halifax, Canada. He is a Health Behaviour Change Consultant and Associate Professor in Family Medicine at Dalhousie University. His main area of expertise is adult health psychology, with an emphasis on obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular risk and gastroenterology.
He spends most of his time training healthcare providers in behaviour change for chronic disease management. He regularly supervises clinical and academic students at Dalhousie and is active in research on motivation, behavioural change and adaptation to chronic disease. He consults nationally as well as internationally and is heavily involved in academic publications, journal editing, and clinical practice guidelines (2020 and 2006 Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Obesity and 2018, 2013, 2004 Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines).
Mark Woolley was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 12. His parents, Steve and Tracy, had already been exposed to the symptoms through their middle son, Matt, who was also diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at birth.
At the time of diagnosis, hockey had already become a significant part of Mark’s life, giving the 2001-born defenceman a strong fear that the athletic life he had become accustomed to, would be taken away.
It didn’t take long, however, for Mark to learn that if he could manage diabetes properly, and take care of his health, it wouldn’t be a factor and he could still play the game that he loves. Learning to live with diabetes didn’t come without its trials, though.
Now, as a defenceman for the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Owen Sound Attack, Mark has the goal to not only raise awareness around diabetes, but to send kids to Diabetes Canada D-Camps, hoping to give them the same opportunity to learn how to live their lives with diabetes, while still living the life that they love.
Dr. Tom Elliott obtained his medical degree (MBBS) in 1982 from the University of Queensland, Australia. In 1985, he moved to Canada, where he completed his core specialist internal medicine training at the University of British Columbia (UBC). From 1989 to 1991, Dr. Elliott took advanced training in diabetes at the University of London, UK. In 1991, he obtained sub specialist certification in Endocrinology & Metabolism (including diabetes) from the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC).
Since 1992, Dr. Elliott has been a faculty member at UBC, where his current rank is Clinical Associate Professor. He was Co-Director of Undergraduate Medical Education for the UBC Division of Endocrinology from 1992 to 2012, and chaired the Endocrinology & Metabolism Society of BC, the professional body representing all BC endocrinologists and diabetes specialists, from 2008 to 2012.
Since 1992, Dr. Elliott has been on the active medical staff at Vancouver General Hospital, as well as conducting a busy private office practice in Endocrinology & Diabetology. Dr. Elliott is Director of Clinical Trials at BC Diabetes. He has authored more than 60 scientific papers and is actively engaged in 15 ongoing research projects.
Dr. Cheng is a member of the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Credit Valley Hospital in Mississauga and St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. She completed medical school, internal medicine and Endocrinology training at the University of Toronto and has completed the Master Teacher Program offered through the Department of Medicine.
She has served on the Expert Committee for the 2003 Diabetes Canada clinical practice guidelines, the Steering and Expert Committees for the 2008 revision and served as Chair of the 2013 Diabetes Canada clinical practice guidelines. She is currently the Chair of the Professional Section of Diabetes Canada and an Associate Editor for the Canadian Journal of Diabetes. She is Past-Chair of the Guidelines Committee for the Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism.
She has received a Certificate of Recognition from the Ontario College of Family Physicians, the national Charles H. Best Award and the Gerald S. Wong Service Award from Diabetes Canada in recognition of her contributions.
Dr Cheng Presentation Overview: Learn more about the relationship between diabetes and sex as Dr. Alice Cheng discusses various ways diabetes can affect your sexual health.
Kate Farnsworth is the patient partner co-lead for the Innovations in Type-1 Diabetes Program. Kate has been heavily involved in the Do-It-Yourself #wearenotwaiting movement since her daughter Sydney was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 8. With a background in information technology and graphic design, Kate has lent her skillset to developing diabetes watch faces for remote monitoring used by patients worldwide.
Kate has created an online patient-driven support community for people who are exploring DIY closed-loop solutions and continues to advocate for all people with diabetes to have access to the best tools to manage their diabetes.
Dr. Wharton has his doctorate in Pharmacy and Medicine. He is the medical director of the Wharton Medical Clinic, a community based internal medicine weight management and diabetes clinic. He is an adjunct professor at McMaster University in Hamilton and York University in Toronto. He also works as an internist at Women’s College Hospital, and the Hamilton Health Sciences. Dr. Wharton is a researcher and is qualified as a diplomat of the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
Dr. Wharton’s research focuses on bariatric medicine and type 2 diabetes. He is the lead author of the weight management section of the 2013 and 2018 Canadian Diabetes Guidelines, and co-chair of the 2018 Canadian Obesity Guidelines.
Dr. McGavock’s research program is focused the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes in youth, with a particular focus on physical activity. My research program is has three distinct pillars designed to span the spectrum of mechanistic human physiology studies to community-based participatory action research.
Dr. McGavock is an associate professor in the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health within the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. He is currently the co-leader of the DREAM Theme at the Children's Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba. Dr. McGavock held a CIHR New Investigator Salary Award from 2010-2014 and currently holds a CIHR Applied Health Chair in Obesity and Resilience in Indigenous Youth.
Dr. McGavock's formal training is in Kinesiology completing a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education at the University of Manitoba (1997), a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology at McGill University (1999) and a PhD in Exercise Science at the University of Alberta(2003). Following his doctoral degree he completed a CIHR-funded post-doctoral fellowship within the Albert-based STIHR training program TORCH (2003-2004) and a Heart and Stroke Foundation/CIHR Target Obesity Fellowship in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology with Drs Benjamin Levine and Ron Victor UT Southwestern Medical Centre (2004-2006).
Dr Delilah Topic Bio: I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 14, in 1993. I have pursued high level athletics and academics since my diagnosis. I received a Hon.Bsc. in Human Biology at the University of Toronto in 2002 and went on to receive my medical degree from U of T in 2006, graduating top 6% in my class. I then completed both a residency in Internal Medicine (2009) and a fellowship in Medical Oncology (2011). Finally, I completed an additional fellowship at St. Michael’s Hospital (2012) to gain more expertise in Breast and GI cancers.
Currently, I practice as a Medical Oncologist in Kelowna, and am the provincial lead of multiple-choice exams for the undergraduate medical program. My other passion is competitive running, and I have represented Canada numerous times, highlighted by three medals at the World Masters Games (2013, 2017), and a top six finish at the World Masters Track and Field Championships (2016). Currently, I am looking forward to competing in the World Masters Games in Japan in 2021.
Despite its challenges, living with Type 1 Diabetes does not have to limit your dreams, goals, and accomplishments!
Dr. Delilah Topic Presentation Overview: I look forward to sharing my journey with T1D with you! As a competitive runner, medical oncologist, and professor, I have proven that there are no limits to T1D. However, my journey was not without its challenges! I hope to provide some inspiration and tips on how to thrive and succeed despite living with a challenging disease.
Bruce A Perkins, MD MPH is Professor, Endocrinologist and Diabetes Complications Clinician-Scientist at the University of Toronto appointed to the Faculty of Medicine and to the Institute of Health, Policy, Management and Evaluation. He holds the Sam and Judy Pencer Family Chair in Diabetes Clinical Research. He obtained his MD and Internal Medicine training at the University of Toronto, his endocrinology subspecialty training at Harvard University, his Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, and a research fellowship in epidemiology at the Joslin Diabetes Center.
Using longitudinal cohort methods as well as clinical trials, his research work has focused on 1) Early biomarkers of diabetes complications, and 2) Interventions for prevention of complications, including artificial pancreas technologies and adjunct drug therapies added to insulin.
In 2015 he was awarded the Canadian Diabetes Association/CIHR Young Scientist Award for his research. Among other projects, he co-leads an Innovations in type 1 Diabetes group within Diabetes Action Canada, a national patient-oriented research strategy.
Dr Perkins Presentation Overview: This talk will focus on the our current efforts to use technology in type 1 diabetes practice - key knowledge around glucose sensors, insulin pumps, automated insulin delivery algorithms - and how we can better make use of them individually and advocate for better access.
