Anissa’s Story
I’m a bit obsessed about two things in life: diabetes and hockey, where I'm a researcher by day and professional hockey at night. I started playing hockey at the age of 4, and was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 8, celiac at 11 and hoshimotos disorder at 18. Throughout my experience of growing up in New Brunswick, I was frustrated with the standard diabetes care, and have been focused on my life's mission to change the way we teach and learn about diabetes management. My journey to tackle this thus far has yet to be straight by any means. My roadmap from attending high school in Ontario, undergrad in Pittsburgh, graduate school in Alberta and now in Toronto for my doctorate has untraditional. The journey has allowed me shadow and work in the medical field that has brought to light a few key characteristics. 1) We need to change the tone of the meaning “Diabetes”- we need to eliminate the negative stigma and realize it’s an adjective of strength and resilience. 2) We need to emphasize the need for self-management and take initiative of our diabetes control- your healthcare professionals are like your coaches- they are there to guide you, but you’re ultimately the one playing the game.. 3) We need a platform that connects people to encourage peer-based education- whether this is through organizations or technology, the power of unity and belonging is necessary and beautiful.
I love playing hockey not because of the game itself (Although everything about being on the ice brings me great joy), but the life lessons it teaches. Like the power of playing your role to best accomplish team goals in a synergy fashion or the power of determination and hard work to improve your skills when no one is looking. I find it ironic and serendipitous of how similar women’s hockey and the current T1D management system. As a female “professional athlete,” we are currently in a historical movement to create a platform for females to continue playing that will be sustainable and successful. For T1D, there’s a big movement of advocacy and T1D inequalities. Both implement a team work orientated fashion that will evidently make living and humanity better.
My current interest has been in the field of telemedicine. We know T1D is a constant disorder, to the point T1D’s unconsciously think about it up 600 times a day! It’s overwhelming and challenging. Through digital platforms, we are trying to alleviate this burden and tackle a few of the challenges previously mentioned. Our projects at UHN eHealth is a sole player in a team comprised of not for profit organizations like Diabetes Action Canada, JDRF, CIHR, Connected in Motion, etc. with health care providers (Nurses, Endocrinologists, etc), policy makers, people living with T1D and supporting family and friends. My research will focus on making Canadian patient engagement platform that will connect researchers with patients and provide T1D statistics, creating a virtual educational platform, and conduct virtual visits with your health care providers. My pathway has changed and will continue to change throughout my mission to accomplish my goal, but it’s been an incredible journey thus far. I’ll often reflect of how my T1D influences my life and certainly there’s negative side effects, but predominately it has under taken a positive attribute in my life. I get to connect with incredible people across the world, it forces me to learn and adopt everyday, and it keeps me curious to research and seek solutions. I would not be the person I am today without T1D, and for that I am grateful to be alive.
Anissa Gamble