CHANGING THE CONVERSATION for People Living With Diabetes
Mona was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 16 during a family vacation in the summer of 1990, when she went into a diabetic coma and woke up in a hospital in Bozeman, Montana. Instead of celebrating her “Sweet 16,” she was learning how to manage a life-altering diagnosis. Returning home to Canada, resources for young people with diabetes were extremely limited, and daily care in those early years was physically and emotionally exhausting.
Diabetes remains a constant part of Mona’s life. Every day involves monitoring blood sugar, counting carbohydrates, adjusting insulin, and planning ahead for activity. While much of this work is invisible to others, it never pauses. Living with a chronic illness shaped her resilience and inspired her to become an advocate for others facing illness and unseen challenges.
Mona is a wife, mother, fur mama, and a Realtor in Calgary with over 20 years of experience, known for connecting people and building community. She has raised funds for diabetes research since her teens and is a proud advocate with the Canadian Transplant Association and the Kidney Foundation. As a multiple organ transplant recipient, this work is deeply personal.
Mona is modeling in the 2026 Pump Couture Fashion Show to raise awareness and show that diabetes does not define her. Having lived with type 1 diabetes for 36 years, she hopes to see a cure in her lifetime and wants others to know they are not alone.
#PumpCoutureFashionShow #ChangeTheConversation #StopTheStigma
