Alyssa Coulter isn’t going to let Type 1 diabetes get in the way of dreams like playing with Canada’s Olympic hockey team.
The 13-year-old took part in this year’s one-of-a-kind Dskate hockey camp in Milton last week where youths are taught how to properly manage their condition so they are on the ice — not the sidelines.
“I like hockey because it is a team sport. You play as a team with your friends and make new friends,” said Alyssa, who plays defence with the North Halton Twisters.
“While playing the biggest challenge is when your blood sugar gets low and makes you feel not so good. You have to take a minute to correct it by taking insulin or juice and you can end up missing a whole period and that sucks. I may need to take some time to get better and that makes me feel left out.”
Alyssa attended the first Dskate camp last year after being told about the program at the medical clinic which helps her keep her diabetes in check.
“They know that I enjoy hockey and they introduced me to the program. Managing your diabetes while reading a book is a lot more simple than when you are playing hockey. I’m learning a much more specialized way to manage things,” Alyssa said.
“I have had diabetes since I was a year-old and it is just a part of life. It’s never easy but I’m managing it as best as I can.”
Along with on ice diabetes practices, the camp provides dietary classes to help kids manage the condition while being active.
“I’ve learned different ways to count carbs and they have given me new ideas and so far they have worked. We are all here to help each other,” Alyssa said.
“It’s also great to see that there are celebrities here who have diabetes and they are professional athletes, because I would love to be on the Olympic hockey team,” Alyssa said.
Former NHL player Nick Boynton, of Nobleton, Ont., was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was 18.
But that didn’t stop him from playing 11 seasons with the NHL and winning a Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.
He said it was important for him to take part in the camp to show the kids that diabetes didn’t stop his dreams.
“I dealt with it. It is great to be able to talk to the kids and let them know it never affected my dreams and let them know they can do anything,” Boynton said.
Being in the NHL with diabetes hasn’t always been a skate in the park as he got sick with the condition for the first time during his first training camp.
Luckily, pro hockey has physicians with knowledge about diabetes, but the enlightenment wasn’t always extended to the rink.
“I remember being at a practice in Florida and had a coach who didn’t care to find out about my problem and kicked me off the ice (in 2009) because my blood sugar was so low. There are still people who are uneducated,” Boynton said.
He got into the habit of testing his blood sugar on the bench and even though there are only a handful of NHLers with diabetes, Boynton waits for the day to arrive when it is just the norm.
Part of Boynton’s role at the camp is to educate the parents about sports and diabetes.
“Parents hear all these terrible things that could happen when their kids enter sports. They just want to know their kid will be OK. My parents felt the same way. It’s just a lifestyle change that you can take control of,” Boynton said.
Alyssa’s dad and hockey coach, Darren Coulter, understands parents have fears and worry when their child’s blood sugar crashes and for the long-term health ramifications.
“There are fears about the health risks. Diabetes is challenging but manageable. Parents think about their child’s blood sugar 24 hours a day — from hockey to sleep overs. There are a lot of diseases that are worse,” Coulter said.
He understands a parent’s desire to watch over their kid 24 hours a day, but also knows the importance of allowing a child to be independent.
“We were here last year and the experience was beyond our expectations. This will help Alyssa manage her diabetes in other activities,” Coulter said.
Dskate was founded in 2013 by Steve Hindle, who describes himself as an advocate who grew up in a Type 1 diabetic household.
“This is all about the kids being able to trust they can manage themselves and improve their quality of life today for tomorrow,” Hindle said.
“This program removes the stigma and every sport needs this but nothing else exists. These kids deserve the opportunity to be normal and not be pushed around because of their diabetes.
For more information go to www.dskatehockey.com
