“My parents used to tell me, ‘if it’s not dangling or bleeding, you’ll be fine’,” says Tennille Rose. A gifted artist, she developed a courageous attitude growing up on an Ontario farm and today is a successful oil painter, creating figures in bold line and colour.

At 29 years of age, Tennille was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Her pancreas was failing to produce enough insulin and, as she came to realize, she’d been ill for some time. This is what Tennille’s untreated diabetes looked like: fainting spells, poor appetite, weight loss, physical weakness, numbness in her hands and feet, disorientation, confused thinking, and then – most frightening of all to the young artist – vision loss.

“I’ve known something was wrong for a long time, but I just thought I was weak,” says Tennille. After university, I moved and traveled a lot, didn’t have a regular doctor and just never suspected diabetes.”

This is not unusual. Many people are totally unaware of what diabetes is when first diagnosed, particularly Type 1 patients who may not have others in the family with the disease. In contrast, Type 2 diabetes is typically diagnosed in adults who may share symptoms with other family members already familiar with the illness.

In May 2006 Tennille went for eyeglasses. “I was scared and close to panic. I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face,” she says. “I collapsed from my bicycle on the way there.” The optometrist recognized the symptoms and tested her blood sugar – it was 23. Four to six is normal. Alarmed and incredulous, he sent her to the closest emergency unit where she received electrolytes, potassium, and trial medication for Type 2 diabetes. It wasn’t enough.

Three days later Tennille sought help again at her local pharmacy. This time, her blood sugar tested 26. The pharmacist, amazed that Tennille was still standing, ordered her to the Toronto Western Hospital Emergency. Tennille was in trouble. She was in a severe state of Diabetic Ketoacidosis and in danger of slipping into a diabetic coma that could lead to her death.

Doctors at the Western immediately gave her insulin and directed her to the community that would save her – the hospital’s Diabetes Education Centre. It was a turning point in Tennille’s life.

“I cannot say enough about the ‘DEC’; they helped me so much,” says Tennille. “Their wonderful receptionists, their nurses, cognitive-behavioural therapist, social worker, home care nurse, endocrinologist – I saw the entire team and together, they saved my life.”

Tennille is on insulin four times a day now. Her vision is clear, her strength is back and her body weight is normal and her mental focus sharp. “I can’t remember when I ever felt this good. It’s like I’ve been living in a fog and now I am a new person.”

Tennille Rose is an intelligent, educated woman whose story points to the enormous need for increased diabetes awareness, education and research funding. Left untreated, diabetes is a killer.

‘Sugar Free Paintings Art Show & Sale’ represents the work of a woman who has felt a prisoner in her own body. Now that her diabetes is under control, she is finally free to live.

Your donation or purchase of art will further the diabetes education and research so urgently needed to help others like Tennille.

Thank you for your support!