By Sarah Wallace

Youth spreading awareness of Juvenile Diabetes at annual walk

Aug 27, 2016 | 12:07 PM

Two Prince Albert youth will have the unique opportunity to bring awareness to a disease that not only affects young people across the country, but affects their lives personally.

Nine-year-old Logan Hovdebo and 17-year-old Mackenzie Aarrestad are this year’s youth ambassadors for the 2016 Juvenile Walk for Diabetes in P.A.

Walk chairperson and Logan’s mom, Chantelle Hovdebo said the walk is not only a way to raise money, but it’s a chance to spread awareness about Type 1 diabetes.

“[Youth Ambassadors] are youths who have lived with Type 1 diabetes. The youth ambassadors are the face of the walk…they are able to provide information. They know what it’s like to have Type 1 diabetes and to go through all the highs and lows of it,” Hovdebo said.

Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong autoimmune disease that affects children.

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“[Type 1 means] you’re insulin dependent because your pancreas quits producing the insulin the body needs,” Hovdebo said.

Logan was diagnosed when he was four. Hovdebo said being a parent of a Type 1 diabetic can be stressful at times because she constantly has to monitor her son.

“… [he can go into seizure] if his blood sugar drops too low. It is scary because it can happen when you’re sleeping too,” she explained.

She said it was harder when Logan was younger because he wasn’t as independent as he is now. Now, he has an insulin pump which can regular his blood sugar without regular blood testing.

Aarrestad was diagnosed when she was eight. She has been a youth ambassador for the past two years.

“[Being an ambassador] helps me get out there a little more and let people know what diabetes is. I really like doing this and it means a lot. I get to be a part of the walk more than just signing up, I get to meet more people,” she explained.

Aarrestad said life was challenging after first being diagnosed, but she learned a lot about the disease over the past nine years, adding her family has been very supportive. 

The Walk for Juvenile Diabetes will take place Sept. 18 at the Art Hauser Centre with registration beginning at 10 a.m. and the walk to follow at 11 a.m.

The walk will raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

swallace@panow.com

On Twitter and Instagram: @sarahthesquid