John Whitehead 

CHANGING THE CONVERSATION for People Living With Diabetes

John was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1974, when he was just 9 years old. One moment from that time stayed with him for years: he overheard a nurse telling his mom that he wouldn’t live to be 30. It took a long time to silence that fear and rewrite the story in his head, but John eventually did. He made a decision to take control of his health and make meaningful, positive changes in his diabetes journey. 

Today, John knows firsthand that living with type 1 diabetes while working a physical job comes with real challenges. During busy shifts, he can walk 15 to 20 kilometres, and keeping his blood glucose in range — especially preventing lows — can be incredibly difficult. It’s a balancing act that requires constant awareness, planning, and resilience. 

But John’s journey didn’t stop at managing his own diabetes. Choosing to truly care about his health sparked a deeper passion for learning everything he could about type 1 diabetes. That curiosity quickly turned into advocacy. After pushing for CGM coverage in his workplace, John began helping others advocate too — and eventually, that work expanded into advocacy with the Ontario government. 

John now volunteers at three diabetes clinics in Niagara, supporting others and helping them feel less alone. Being part of the type 1 diabetes community has become a source of comfort and purpose for him, and he says he would love to one day be able to help others in this space professionally, because it’s deeply fulfilling. 

John also recently had the opportunity to do a photoshoot for an online pharmacy — a cool moment that reflects how far he’s come, and how confidently he now shows up as someone living with diabetes. 

John attended diabetes camp as a child, and he still remembers how powerful it was to see so many other people living with the same condition. Camp was the first place he truly didn’t feel alone. It’s also where he learned how to give an injection in his arm — and where he began to build confidence that stayed with him long after camp ended. 

John is modelling in the Pump Couture Fashion Show to raise awareness, challenge stigma, and remind people that diabetes is not caused by eating too much sugar. He believes education and visibility matter, and his story proves what is possible when someone refuses to give up. 

John’s message is simple, honest, and strong: “Re-set, re-adjust, re-start, re-focus, re-repeat as many times as you have to. Just don’t quit.” 



#PumpCoutureFashionShow #ChangeTheConversation #StopTheStigma