By Devan Mighton
Diabetes can be a debilitating disease. Through limiting insulin production from the pancreas, diabetes targets the homeostasis of sugar in the bloodstream, with long-term effects including heart attack, stroke, blindness, and nerve damage which could lead to amputation.
In Sept. 2021, Leah MacKinnon, a student at Belle River’s École Élémentaire Catholique Pavillon des Jeunes, was diagnosed as having Type 1 Diabetes (T1D).
“To be honest, I do not like it, but I know I’m going to be okay and I’m going to get through it,” states Leah. “Hopefully, someday we will have a cure for me and all the people with diabetes.”
At eight years old, the third-grade student is a big sister, enjoys competitive dance, and excels at art and math at school. She says she has a great group of friends who are her support group, many of whom she has known since she was a baby.
“I have learned so much (about diabetes),” she says. “Mostly, I need to keep an eye on my blood sugar, and I need to take insulin before I eat.”
She has become educated in what she needs to do to keep herself healthy as a T1D patient.
“I need to take insulin,” explains Leah. “I wear a pump that is called an omnipod, it looks like a sticker on my arm and is filled with my insulin. With a click of a button, it gives me the medicine I need. I also wear a sensor called a Dexcom. This reads my blood sugar numbers and even sends them to my mom and dad when I’m at school. Also, sometimes I need to eat sugar when my number is too low. I like to eat fruit snacks when this happens.”
Leah has also learned, with the help of her parents, Shannon and Justin, about the power of advocacy. Through the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), the MacKinnon’s have organized community walks with over 400 people in support of JDRF’s SunLife Walk to Cure Diabetes. They also had custom “Leah’s T1D Squad” shirts made and sold in support of JDRF and ran a community lemonade stand. Leah’s “squad” was able to raise over $4,800 for the JDRF. This is only the beginning.
“On Nov. 13, I will be going to Ottawa to be a part of the JDRF Kids for a Cure campaign as a youth delegate,” said Leah. “We will get to meet with politicians at Parliament Hill and have meetings to talk about living with T1D and what the government can do to help.” Her visit to Ottawa will coincide with National Diabetes Day, which takes place on Nov. 14.
Deep down, Leah is a normal, happy, and healthy eight-year-old girl who now has the ability to help others through her knowledge, advocacy, and understanding of the disease she has learned to manage.
“Talk to your family and friends when you are having a hard time or feel sad,” advises Leah. “You are going to be okay. It may seem scary at first, but you will get used to doing the things needed to manage your diabetes. You can still do all the things you love to do.”
For more information on the JDRF and Type 1 Diabetes, please visit www.JDRF.ca, and in honour of National Diabetes Day, on Nov. 14, please consider making a donation to the JDRF to help in the fight against T1D.
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