CHANGING THE CONVERSATION for People Living With Diabetes
Gurjit was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) at 25 years old, as a newly wed with a budding career. After months of repeated illness, bloodwork revealed dangerously high blood sugar levels and she was rushed to hospital. The sudden T1D diagnosis was overwhelming and raised countless concerns about her future.
Adjusting to life with T1D came with it's challenges. The constant planning and decisions needed to manage the disease, for every possible scenario, eventually just became a normal part of daily life.
For many years, Gurjit resisted wearable diabetes technology due to stigma, and malfunction concerns while raising her children. Eventually, as diabetes fatigue set in, something had to change. She began using a continuous glucose monitor and later an insulin pump. The transformation was immediate, with improvements in all aspects of her health. The most impactful change after 20 years of manually managing the disease, was the eased mental burden of constant decision‑making and manual adjustments.
Gurjit still finds strength from her husband's one-liner upon diagnosis: “You will manage it. It will not manage you.” Diabetes has never stopped her from living fully, pursuing ambitious goals, and embracing exciting adventures. She is now a proud mother of two teenage boys, who understand and support the challenges of her T1D. She co‑owns a construction company, PnG Builders, and a visual art company, Closet Art Studio.
Giving back is an important part of her journey. Through her involvement with Diabetes Canada, Gurjit is passionate about helping children with T1D thrive. She recognizes the difficulty this life-altering disease poses, not only for the child, but also for their families. She is modelling at Pump Couture to enable conversations, challenge stigmas, and support kids living with T1D to live their best lives.
#PumpCoutureFashionShow #ChangeTheConversation #StopTheStigma
