Stacey Van Wart says she will never let diabetes control her life.
The now 40-year-old was diagnosed with the disease 10 years ago in September 2003.However, that diagnosis didn’t stop her from working — as well as competingin two ironman triathlons in 2010 and 2012.
It also won’t stop her and three others from swimming across the Northumberland Strait this week as a way to raise awareness to others living with the disease.
“It’s a challenge for how well I can manage my blood sugars and everything through that (swim),” Van Wart said during an interview with The Guardian. “But it’s also to demonstrate that, regardless of your diabetes, you can still do whatever you want to do.”
Carrie Heldman, Van Wart’s sister and a spokesperson for the group, said the idea for the crossing started with each swimmer having their own personal connection to diabetes, whether through themselves, a family member or friend.
Heldman said once diagnosed, many think “your entire world has to change and that exercise becomes almost difficult to do.”
That’s not the case, she said.
“You can continue to do anything you want. You just have to be aware of everything, your diet, calories and nutrition.”
The swimmers, who all hail from Burlington, Ont., said they want to bring awareness to that mentality when they do the swim.
After nearly a year of training, the exact date of crossing is still undetermined. The group could have begun today, but at press time they said it was more likely they would take to the waters Friday.
The swim, apart from raising awareness, will also raise funds for the I Challenge Diabetes charity.
The national not-for-profit group, which was founded in 2007 by Canadian Olympic rower Chris Jarvis, supports diabetics to live healthy lifestyles.
Van Wart said her main philosophy is that “anything is possible.”
She added that a little while ago when her friend was swimming through the English Channel, her endocrinologist told her, “Don’t even think about doing that.”
Those words stuck with her and partially fueled the desire to do the crossing.
“That was always in the back of my mind. But doing this shows me that I can do (the English Channel) some day if I ever choose to,” she said. “It’s a good experience, to know anything is possible. Even if someone says ‘no’ there is always a way around it.”