Turning Adversity into Action: The Story Behind Diabetes Hope Foundation

Turning Adversity into Action: The Story Behind Diabetes Hope Foundation

Barbara Pasternak’s Family Journey with Type 1 Diabetes

My own story is similar to that of many families whose lives have been touched by diabetes. Before it entered our lives, we were an ordinary hockey family. In 1994 everything shifted when my husband, Joe, and I were blindsided when our two youngest sons were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) within three years of each other. We knew nothing about the disease – only that our lives had changed overnight. It felt like an uninvited houseguest had moved in, and we quickly realized it would never leave.

Like so many families who are confronted with a T1D diagnosis, we first asked ‘why did this happen to us?’ As we learned to accept our new reality, Joe and I made a conscious decision: no matter what, we would let our kids be kids. We wanted them to know that they could not only live with diabetes, but thrive with it and could grow up to be healthy and strong and to become whoever it was they wanted to be.

Discovering the Power of Community

This journey was not one that we could do on our own, and I realized early on that while it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village plus a team of dedicated health care professionals to raise a child living with a chronic illness. It was through this team that I found out about diabetes camps, magical places for kids living with diabetes to feel normal.

After both my boys attended camp, I knew I had found my life’s calling. I wanted to help both my children and other families navigate this complex journey.

And so, 27 years ago, Joe and I gathered close friends and business associates to host our first golf tournament, raising funds for the camp our sons attended. In just the first two years, we raised enough money to build a new dock. Over the next decade, we helped fund clinicians’ cabins and supported rebuilding the infirmary.

During this time, one of my friends said that we were giving hope to so many kids. The word hope stayed with me and would later define everything that followed.

Recognizing the Gap in Young Adult Support

As my children grew up, diabetes was with us through each stage of life, and I saw firsthand how critical the transition from adolescence to adulthood was for youth living with T1D. Conversations with clinics across Canada confirmed what I was living: young adults leaving the warm embrace of pediatric care struggle with their transition to the adult health care system.

Twenty-five years ago, there were limited resources available that focused on this crucial transition. Even more striking was the absence of recognition for the hard work and resilience that these young people demonstrated every single day.

And so, I launched Diabetes Hope Foundation (DHF) with a mission to build that recognition.

The Launch of Diabetes Hope Foundation

Once I had decided how I wanted to give back to the diabetes community, I started the hard work of reaching out across my networks to build something meaningful – something that would celebrate the accomplishments of transitioning youth living with T1D.

In 1999, the Diabetes Hope Scholarship Program was launched to do just that. Along with providing financial assistance for post-secondary education, the scholarship was designed to motivate, celebrate, and reward the vigilance and perseverance of students as they balanced their health with their academic goals. It was a way to publicly recognize the strength that too often goes unseen.

Now, in 2026, we will reach the exciting milestone of awarding 1000+ scholarships to students across Canada. The impact of this is both overwhelming and heartwarming for the team at DHF and all those who have paved the way for this tremendous success.

Meeting the Complex Needs of Transitioning Youth

Through hearing the stories of our scholarship recipients, I am continually reminded that while advancements in diabetes care have improved day-to-day management, the emotional burden of living with a chronic illness remains significant. Recognizing the additional stress this puts on youth as they transition to adulthood, I worked with my team to develop resources and peer support programming to support the mental health of youth living with diabetes.

In collaboration with our Alumni community – whose commitment to paying it forward continues to inspire me – we launched the Hope Connects peer mentorship program, our wellness webinar series, and continued to expand our online resource hub for all youth living with T1D to access. Today, under the leadership of our Executive Director, Heather Miller, we continue to grow our programs and resources to ensure youth and their families have reliable information and meaningful connections to guide them throughout their transition years.

Free to Be Arts Program, 2025

Campus Club Skating Event, 2025

Looking Ahead with Confidence and Commitment

As I look to the future of DHF, I am excited about the possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead. With continued support from our community, we are confident that we can deepen our impact on the lives of youth living with T1D.

In 2022, Barbara was recognized by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, with a Meritorious Service Decoration (Civil Division) for her work supporting youth living with diabetes.

This recognition reflects the incredible community that has come together through Diabetes Hope Foundation to support youth and young adults, and their families, living with diabetes across the country. She shares this recognition with everyone who has helped build programs that offer encouragement, opportunity, and hope to those navigating life with diabetes.