The Sideline Secret
children's diabetes book
Aastha is 10 years old, loves soccer, and never goes anywhere without her hoodie. Ever. She’s fast on the field and fearless with the ball, but there’s one thing she’s scared to share: Aastha has type 1 diabetes. What if her friends treat her differently if they find out? What if they don’t understand?
As Aastha gets ready for her big game, she learns that being brave isn’t just about scoring goals – it’s about being honest and staying true to yourself.
The Sideline Secret is a collaborative project from the DHF community, written as the third book in DHF’s Nothing Can Stop Me series. Aastha’s story highlights the day-to-day challenges that children living with diabetes face and their resilience to overcome them.with type 1 diabetes.
Recommended for ages 8 – 12 | Available on Amazon!
Click here for the US Edition of ‘The Sideline Secret’ >
The Story Behind
The Sideline Secret
Hi! We’re Aastha and Ravjot, the authors of The Sideline Secret, and we both have type 1 diabetes. Based on our shared experiences, this book looks at how diabetes “jokes” and judgement affect people living with T1D, and celebrates the courage it takes to be yourself.
Meet The Sideline Secret Team!
Aastha Relan (AUTHOR) immigrated to Canada at age 4, and was diagnosed with T1D shortly after. She completed her BHSc and MSc in Health Research Methodology at McMaster University before pursuing medicine at Queen’s University. As a 2019 DHF scholarship recipient, Aastha is always looking for new ways to pay it forward through youth mentorship, scholarship advising, and other advocacy efforts. Aastha’s mission is to empower others to embrace their health journey and build communities where diverse stories are honoured and celebrated.
Ravjot Samra (AUTHOR) was diagnosed with T1D at 2 years old. Growing up without knowing any other type ones sparked her lifelong goal of connecting with folks living with diabetes and building community through sharing stories. As a 2013 DHF scholarship recipient and Program Facilitator with DHF, Ravjot has used her platform to talk about diabetes in ways that are not usually talked about, highlighting how diabetes weaves itself into the social and emotional sides of life. Ravjot believes in the power of storytelling and is dedicated to creating spaces where folks feel seen, heard, and safe to share their lived experiences.
ERIN MERCER (ILLUSTRATOR) is an artist and illustrator based in Nova Scotia, Canada. She was diagnosed with MODY3 when she was 13 and received a scholarship from DHF that kickstarted her art career! She now works for animation studios as a storyboard artist and background artist. Pencil Empire Studio, Erin’s home studio where she moonlights as an illustrator, is slowly growing. Here she illustrates children’s books, greeting card designs, and custom prints by commission. Her dream, other than free insulin for all people living with diabetes, is to illustrate children’s books full-time.
HEATHER MILLER (EDITOR) earned her Master of Social Work at the University of Toronto, and holds an Honours BA with a double major in English and Indigenous Studies from Trent University. Heather was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 20 and is passionate about combining her lived experience with her background in program development and facilitation to support youth in the diabetes community. As Executive Director at DHF, Heather truly values creating safe spaces for youth living with type 1 diabetes and their families to share their stories, learn from each other and strengthen their community of support.
Yummy!
STUFFED PARATHAS RECIPE
Stuffed Paratha (Aloo paratha) is a classic North Indian flatbread stuffed with a spiced potato filling and cooked until golden and crisp on the outside—soft and flavorful on the inside. It’s perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and pairs beautifully with yogurt, pickled achaar (South Asian pickled mango, lime or chili pepper), or chutney.
A Special Dedication
The Sideline Secret is dedicated to kids living with diabetes who don’t always see themselves represented in the books they read – your story matters.
~ -AR & RS, Authors
