Barb created this site when she could not find enough information and support for Canadians. She set about attempting to fill that gap by focusing on issues and changes that effected Canadians living with Type 1 Diabetes.  Barb is a mother with no medical background who works as a parent and an advocate to  provide an information source and support network to people living with diabetes throughout Canada and the world.

Diabetes Advocacy is an organization filled with knowledge, resources, and a voice for those living with Type 1 diabetes .  It has become a voice heard by  politicians on both provincial and federal levels.  Diabetes Advocacy was instrumental in the 2004 reform of the Disability Tax Credit which now allows people living with Type 1 diabetes to receive the credit.

Barb and Diabetes Advocacy continue to grow each day with the help and support of people who visit this site. This site receives no federal or organizational funding. You can support Diabetes Advocacy through purchases made in our store. If you would like to further assist or advertise your authorized diabetes related item on this site, please contact us. We accept advertisements for products and services that we deem to be of interest to our viewers and which are in keeping with our editorial policy of patient empowerment, sound science, and medical accuracy. All advertising must be vetted through Diabetes Advocacy first.

Barb's other accomplishments include:

• The 2007 Jeff Hitchcock Distinguished Service Award, sponsored by LifeScan, was presented to Barb Wagstaff (Marche) for her leadership and advocacy for children with diabetes in Canada (July 12, 2007)
• a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Calgary. 
• The Vice-Chairperson for the Bay St. George Branch of the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Chairperson for their advocacy committee. 
• A member of  the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Diabetes Strategy Committee. 
• A member of the Insulin Pumpers Canada Advisory Committee (2004-2007). 
• Driving force behind the changes to the Disability Tax Credit as it applies to those living with Type 1 diabetes
• Former Chairperson of the Newfoundland and Labrador Canadian Diabetes Association Advocacy Committee (2005-2006)
• Member of the Canadian Diabetes Association's National Working Group on the Disability Tax Credit
• Member of the Canadian Diabetes Association's National Working Group on Children with Diabetes in Schools. 
• A member of the Chronic Disease and Social Inequities Workshop Planning Committee
• Selected by the Canadian Diabetes Association's National Awards Committee to receive the Distinguished Achievement Award 2005
• A member of the Advisory Committee for the Diabetes Hope Foundation Scholarship fund for Newfoundland and Labrador. (2007 to date)
• Faculty member of the Children with Diabetes Focus on Pumping Regional Conference in Toronto August 2007 and March 2009
• A member of the Education for Children with Diabetes Foundation review board for Canadian Scholarship application (2008)
• Guest speaker for the Teaching Assistant Program in Western College, Stephenville, NL campus April 2009 and April 2010
• Co-host of T1D Podcast with Scott Herring
• Faculty member of the Children with Diabetes Friends for Life Canadian Conference, Vancouver August 2010
• Co-creator of www.ourdiabetesmemorial.com

Our Story....

Liam had always been a thin child. It was March of 2000 and he was two. It was flu season. We worried about him teething and didn't pay a lot of attention when he seemed a little under the weather. He would be listless but could manage to walk to the fridge, open it and pour himself a glass of juice! How sick could he be?

His diapers were drenched constantly. I had blankets laying everywhere as we couldn't keep him dry. He was drinking a lot so I didn't worry about dehydration.  He would only stay in my arms and he liked to sleep a lot. He was my baby so I let him.

One day he woke up and he was clawing at his tongue. It was full of white spots. That was it. We packed up and headed to the Emergency Room.  He vomited along the way.

We were finally seen and he was diagnosed with an ear infection. They gave him medication for the Thrush on his tongue. We were asked if he was drinking fluids. I said that is all he is doing! They said that was good. We went home.

A few days later he was worse. We called our family doctor and got in right away. He was labouring to breathe as we sat in the office. His feet were solid ice despite the woollen socks on his feet.

Our family doctor took one look at him and said that he has diabetes and was in Ketoacidosis. His blood had too much carbon dioxide in it. On the off chance it was simply a chest infection, emergency x-rays were ordered along with the blood work. We went to the hospital and waited no time. Liam's body was lifeless and I had to prop him up for all tests.

We returned to the doctor's office and waited only a few minutes. As I sat in the office, I saw a sign that gave the warning signs of diabetes. Liam had too many to list! We were told to drive to the hospital in the next town as fast as we could. They were waiting for us.

We drove through a blinding snow storm. I held Liam in my arms, willing him to live. I was terrified. I didn't know what the words the doctor had said meant but I knew my baby's life was at stake.

When we got to the hospital, the woman seemed to take years to register Liam. I wanted her to hurry but it didn't seem to help. Finally she took us to the paediatric floor. They weighed Liam on a baby scale and he weighed 11kg at 2 1/2 years old. They poked him and prodded and he didn't respond.  The doctor took one look and sent him to ICU.

When he was hooked up to more tubes than I could imagine, the doctor came back to talk to us. Our son had diabetes. His blood glucose level was 7 times the normal range. The next 12 hours were critical. If he lived then we would learn to deal with this disease called Type 1 Diabetes. In the meantime, all we could do was pray.

And pray we did. I never left Liam's side. Family were called and they began their own prayers and prayer chains for us. I never knew what that meant until much later or what was being done for us. All I knew was that my child had to live.

Twenty-four hours later he was ripping out IVs and catheters. When he went back to the paediatric floor, I began to realize how weak he was. I noticed that he had hardly spoken in weeks. I saw the flesh sag off of his little bottom. When he fell down, he was too weak to get up and I had to stand him back up. I was terrified of how I would care for him when he came home.

They gave me things to read and I learnt that if he went "low" while he was asleep he could have a seizure and die. I learnt about the damage that the Ketoacidosis could have caused. I learnt what could develop in my son at a very early age. I also learnt what my life would be about--fighting this disease, improving awareness, and doing everything I could for my son and everyone else's children who live with diabetes no matter what their age.

Please remember that Diabetes Advocacy is NOT a charitable organization. We are working to help people living with diabetes but are NOT a registered charity. If you would like to help to support this resource visit the store for many diabetes awareness related products or click on the Donate button