Tiha was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2016 when she was just two years old. It has now been nine years since her diagnosis, and managing diabetes has become a big part of her life. Over the years, her family have all learned so much about living with this condition, and each year they get better at managing it together. It hasn’t always been easy, but as a team, they’ve worked hard to keep Tiha as healthy as possible. With their support and her own determination, she has been able to live an active and fulfilling life despite the challenges that come with type 1 diabetes.
In her spare time, Tiha enjoys playing video games, dancing—especially performing on stage—spending quality time with her family, hanging out with friends, and taking care of her dog. One of the challenges she faces is dealing with high blood sugar levels, especially around mealtime or when she’s hungry. When her blood sugar is too high, she has to wait until it comes down to a safe range before she can eat, which can be frustrating. It requires a lot of patience, and sometimes it feels unfair, especially when she sees others eating or when she’s craving something. During these moments, she reminds herself that waiting is necessary to keep her body healthy and avoid complications. Her family supports her by keeping her distracted or encouraging her, and over time, she has learned to handle these situations with more understanding and resilience. However, it’s still one of the tougher parts of managing diabetes.
Tiha wants people to know that she didn’t get diabetes because she ate too much sugar, and it’s not weird or something that makes her different. Wearing diabetes deviceshas made managing her blood sugars so much easier, especially during all the activities she loves. It helps her get through school with way less stress because she doesn’t have to leave her desk for 15 minutes before lunch to check her sugar anymore. Now, she can stay in class and focus like all the other kids. It also means she doesn’t have to worry as much, which gives her more time to just be a kid and enjoy life!
The hardest thing about wearing her diabetes device is that she always has to change it. It’s like having to stop playing or doing something fun just to switch out this thing on her body. It interrupts everything, and sometimes it hurts a bit, which she really doesn’t like. She wishes she didn’t have to do it so often because it’s not something she looks forward to doing.
If someone is newly diagnosed or struggling with their diabetes, Tiha would tell them: “You are not alone, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed at first. Managing diabetes can be challenging, but with time, patience, and support, it does get easier. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or talk about how you’re feeling—it’s important to have people you can rely on. Take it one step at a time, celebrate the small victories, and remember that you’re stronger than you think. You’ve got this, and there’s a whole community ready to support you.”
This is Tiha’s third year modeling in the Diabetes Canada Pump Couture Fashion Show, and she’s so excited! She loves helping raise money to support other people with diabetes and showing everyone that diabetes doesn’t slow her down or make her any less awesome.
Tiha is really proud of how she takes on challenges and handles her diabetes. She dreams of becoming a lawyer or an actress. She had a great time on her trip to Victoria, where her hotel had an awesome view, a super fun pool, and really good food. She loved spending time with her family and making memories. Having diabetes doesn’t stop her from going on trips—it just means she needs to pack extra supplies so she’s ready for anything. It’s a little extra work, but totally worth it!
Please show your support by helping Tiha reach her fundraising goal.
#PumpCoutureFashionShow
