Diagnosed at four years old, Steph Klassen has lived with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) for 27 years and continues to advocate for supports, and raise awareness about the autoimmune disease.

"It can be really overwhelming at times with all the complications that can happen regardless of how well you take care of yourself," she says. "But I follow some groups online, and someone had posted their father celebrated 56 years living with the disease... it gives you hope you can live a healthy, long life."

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and November 14 was World Diabetes Day.

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, and November 14th was World Diabetes Day. T1D causes the body's immune system to attack and destroy cells in the pancreas that make insulin. People living with the disease must receive insulin through needles, or an insulin pump, to control the glucose levels in their blood, which means continuous glucose monitoring through pricking their finger six or more times a day.

Klassen only received her first insulin pump two years ago. Before that, she received manual injections daily, which requires calculating her carob intake, her blood sugar levels, and possible correction doses. "There's a lot of math involved, but the insulin pump does all that for you."

While the insulin pump has been an incredible help, it comes at a cost of approximately $10,000, something she's had to fundraise for because it's not covered by Manitoba Health.

The Province of Manitoba covers the cost of insulin pumps to people up to 18 years old, but Klassen says she'd like to see everyone living with T1D covered. "It's a very stressful time for someone that age, you're looking at going to college, moving out, and how are you supposed to do that when you have to pay $10,000 for your pump? It's just not feasible."

She's also hoping to see an endocrinologist specialist so people with T1D don't have to travel to Winnipeg so often. "It would be very helpful to have someone like that in our area, and they don't just cover T1D, they cover a lot of things."

Unlike type 2 diabetes, T1D is not linked to being overweight, lack of exercise or other lifestyle factors. "You can't prevent it... it just happens."

For those living with the T1D, Klassen says it's a constant consideration, "It's not like you can get your insulin and you can forget about it for a while, it's every thought, it affects everything you do."

The best way to support people with T1D? Learn a bit about the condition, and then simply ask the person how they're doing, Klassen says. "It's just nice to know people care... it's so stressful and weighs on you so heavily, it's just nice when people take the time to ask how you're doing."