Transcend Warriors – Hana Adi

Hana's story

My Story

I was diagnosed just after my 5th birthday, before starting Kindergarten. At the beginning of each school year, my Mom would come into my class to discuss my diabetes. I wanted her to do that because I wanted to be aware of my diabetes and what they could do if I needed help. Another part of it was that I just wanted people to know so they wouldn’t question what I was doing if I was testing, bolusing on my pump, etc. By the time I reached Grade Five, I was able to share this with my class on my own, without being anxious or embarrassed, and I still do it every year, to this day!

My Health Details

Type of Diabetes: Type 1
Low blood sugar instances per week: 1-3 Instances
Daily number of times checking blood sugar: 4-6 times/day
Managing Diabetes with: Insulin Pump, Glucose Meter & Strips, Transcend Glucose Gels
Age were you diagnosed with diabetes: 5
How long does it take you to come up when you are low: Under 1 hour

How has Transcend helped treat your low blood sugars?

It wasn’t until recently that I was introduced to the Transcend Glucose Gels. As someone who is active in sports like hockey, the Transcend Glucose Gels are quick and easy to have when dealing with a low which helps me get back on the ice in no time. They are also small and compact which makes them easy to carry when I’m on the go!

What is your biggest challenge with diabetes?

I feel like my biggest challenge with diabetes is probably having to sit out of my activities when my blood sugar goes low. For example, if my blood sugar goes low during a hockey game, I will usually have to miss a couple of shifts after treating it so it can go back up. The reason I find this challenging is because I just want to be out there and it’s frustrating to see my teammates out there having fun while I’m sitting out. Although it’s annoying to sit out, I have to do it because I know it’s good for me.

What have you learned from your experiences with diabetes?

Even though I have type 1 diabetes, it doesn’t stop me from doing the things I love. I may have to be more aware of what’s going on with my body, which means watching my blood sugar levels and carrying my supplies with me, but it doesn’t mean I have to stop doing the things I love.

If you had one piece of advice for someone with diabetes, what would it be?

My piece of advice would be to always have patience. It’s very important to stay patient when you have diabetes because you need to test your blood sugar on a daily basis, treat your blood sugar whether it’s high or low, and you have to bolus before every meal. Those are just a few examples and there are many more but having patience when it comes to these things is very helpful because sometimes they can be a pain.

Who has helped you the most manage your diabetes? What has helped you the most manage your diabetes?

My Mom has helped me the most with my diabetes management. The one thing that has helped me the most with managing my diabetes would be my CGM because it alerts me of my highs and lows and it gives me a break from having to test as frequently. It also allows my parents to see my numbers from their phones so that they can help me more.

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