Walking for Change: My T1D Journey of Resilience, Science, and Advocacy

Walking for Change

My T1D Journey of Resilience, Science & Advocacy

I’ve lived with Type 1 Diabetes for over 7.5 years, and if there’s one thing it has taught me, it’s how to adapt. That, and how to fit granola bars into any and every small bag!

I’ve always loved taking on big challenges (maybe a little too much), and when it came time to decide on my high school capstone project, I didn’t want to settle for something simple. I wanted to create something meaningful — something that blended science, advocacy, and action.

The Birth of the Diabetes Discovery Trek

And so, the Diabetes Discovery Trek was born: a 100+ km walk across Vancouver Island to raise awareness and funds for T1D research — and to see how my body, blood sugars, and brain would respond to something completely new.

The idea came from a mix of things: I’m part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program and needed an adventurous journey for my Gold level. I also love science and wanted to explore how my T1D responds to extended physical activity. But most importantly, I wanted to give back to the community that has supported me since diagnosis, including BC Children’s Hospital. This Trek was my way of saying, “Thank you. I’m here because of you — now let me do something for others.”

Building the Trek from the Ground Up

What followed was a whirlwind of my mom and I planning, learning, and growing. We spent months mapping my route, reaching out to sponsors (shoutout to the incredibly kind AirBnB hosts who gave me places to stay for free), and building a social media campaign. We designed a logo, got sweaters printed, launched a GoFundMe, and even painted a truck with “Walk 4 Diabetes” so that people would notice us on the road. I tagged every post with DHF to get more eyes on the campaign, because if I was going to do this, I was going to do it loudly.

I trained whenever I could — squeezing in 2-4 hour walks between school, dance, and life. I quickly learned that these longer stints of exercise brought my blood sugars lower and how my body required a greater amount of carbs to maintain stability and stay in range. It wasn’t easy. Some days, I was tired before I even laced up my shoes. But I kept going, fueled by the excitement of what I was building.

Real-Time Learning and Resilience

And then came March, my spring break — time to put my ideas and plan into motion!

Each day brought something new. Rain-soaked highways, beautiful ocean views, muscle soreness, and surprisingly stable blood sugars (on some days, anyway). On my longest walking day — just under 30 km — I remember being amazed that my blood sugar didn’t spike like it did during my day-to-day routine at home. My body was adapting. I was learning in real-time how protein helped me stay stable, how the terrain affected my energy, and how late-night lows could sneak up on me hours after walking.

It was a science experiment and a personal journey rolled into one — and I loved every minute of it.

My Top 6 Tips for Long Treks with T1D

1. Fuel with protein is your best friend!
   Take protein-based snacks with you in addition to your car by snacks. This will help your blood sugar stay in range for longer periods of time.
2. Adjust insulin dosages
   If taking insulin for a meal before a trek, reduce your dosage more than you would for a shorter trek.
3. Pack a variety of nutritional snacks
   Don’t just take along granola bars and juice boxes, bring high-carb foods with more nutritional substance, e.g. fruits
4. Focus more on blood sugar patterns
   It’s not about what your blood sugar is in the moment, it’s about the patterns. Focus more on the trends and make adjustments to resolve them instead of fixating on one low or high blood sugar.
5. Expect delayed lows, especially overnight
   Prolonged exercise can sneak up on you hours later. Be prepared for nighttime lows and monitor your blood sugar closely.
6. Train in advance!
   Building up walking endurance helps your body adapt and gives you a sense of how your blood sugar responds to long walks .

Facing Disappointment and Finding Encouragement

There were tough moments too. Despite my repeated efforts, I couldn’t get media outlets to cover my story. Some days, I felt invisible. But then a sponsor would donate, a stranger would share my story, or DHF would repost one of my videos — and it reminded me that I was making an impact. One of the biggest moments was securing a $1,000 donation from Odlum Brown! It felt like everything I had worked for was being seen.

We Are all Greather Than T1D

My journey had a profound impact on me. I learned how to plan, how to pitch an idea, how to lead. I learned how to push through when things don’t go to plan. And I learned that my T1D doesn’t limit me — it makes me stronger, more resourceful, and more determined. This Trek was just my way of proving it — to myself, and hopefully to others too.

As I prepare to study chemical and biomedical engineering in university, I know I’ll carry all of this with me — the skills, the confidence, and the belief that one idea, one person, one step, can lead to something so much bigger.

Hi! I’m Hennessy — an 18-year-old from Vancouver who’s a competitive dancer, equestrian, animal lover, and total STEM nerd. I’m passionate about science, public speaking, and giving back to the community that’s always shown up for me.