Fiona's Story

As anyone can imagine, being told I have Type 1 Diabetes as a young professional athlete came at a shock. Actually, more realistically I couldn’t imagine it, even though I was the one receiving the diagnosis.

I was 18 at the time, my first year as a sponsored professional Stand Up Paddle Racer and I was getting ready for my season ahead. It was an exciting time, I felt like I had absolutely nothing to lose! I had just finished my last day of high school in the morning and in the afternoon I went to the doctor because I hand’t been feeling well. I was talking with my doctor who asked if I had ever had my blood sugar checked, I hadn’t. He pricked my finger and the number on the screen of the glucose meter was 586. I said “Great! What’s the out of, 1,000?”. His response,”No, I’m sorry. 95 is normal. You have Type 1 Diabetes” 

My world flipped upside down, at least it did for that moment. A million thoughts were rushing through my head, my heart felt like it was leaping out of my chest and a tear rolled down my cheek. I had no idea what it meant to have “Type 1 Diabetes”. 

I was lucky because my doctor was extremely encouraging. Five days later I was supposed to race in Europe for the first time, and I asked him, “You know, if you don’t think it’s healthy for me to go, I won’t”. He looked at me and said, “That is not my decision to make. If you think you can go, I am not stopping you.” I turned to my dad and said, “We’re going!”. 

That was the springboard. In that moment I realized that I will not let Diabetes hold me back. I am still going to live my life and Diabetes is just going to have to tag along. 

I kept training and racing, and 18 months after my diagnosis, I won the Stand Up Paddle Women’s Racing World Title. This year, I was ranked #2. 

In the last 2 and a half years since my diagnosis, I’ve also been diagnosed with Celiac Disease and a Thyroid condition, so I’m just a little auto-immune disease trifecta! But the same things applies to diabetes, to celiac, to thyroid, and most importantly to me… Never give up! And never, ever, loose sight of your dream! Sure, I am a believer, but if you want to do something to make yourself happy, I’ve learned that first I have to be healthy, and second I have to have a goal to work towards. And with that mindset, I can accept my diseases and gather strength from my weaknesses.

So with that, I am living and enjoying this crazy adventure of life and encourage all of you to do the same! 

Fiona Wylde