Today, she's living with type two diabetes and aims to live a healthier lifestyle.

Alice Isnor, 55, said she was in denial before finally going to the doctor about 3-1/2 years ago. Even after being the executive director for health in the Kitikmeot region, she ignored all the warning signs.

She suspected she had type two diabetes, but couldn't admit it. The only way she convinced herself to make an appointment with the nurse was to pretend she was just going to another checkup.

Today, Isnor is healthy again. She wants others to know what diabetes is and how to prevent it. She wants people to know everything she didn't.

News/North: What is your background in health care?

Alice Isnor: Currently, I'm a private contractor. I do some workshops on Aboriginal diabetes or other health-related issues. I was the executive director of the Kitikmeot region in health and social services for about four years. I finished about 1-1/2 years ago.

N/N: When were you diagnosed with type two diabetes?

AI: About 3-1/2 years ago. I recognize now I did have many symptoms, but there just wasn't much information out there about it. Part of my problem was that if I didn't face it, I could sort of ignore it.

N/N: What made you decide you had to see a doctor?

AI: I remember sitting in my office reading the brochures on diabetes. It was an afternoon and I thought, 'Okay the jig is up. This is you right here. They're writing about you.' I knew I better do something about it. I still let it go for two or three weeks before I went to the health centre.

N/N: So the brochures took you out of denial?

AI: I think they lessened my denial. I knew the nurse would tell me I was diabetic. My way of dealing with it was strategically planned. My husband and I were going to go on a holiday. I told him we should get checkups before leaving. I never even told him I suspected having diabetes. If I told him then I would have to admit it to myself. We made an appointment to see the nurse. She said, 'I think you've got diabetes' and I said 'I think you're right.' It turned out my husband had low blood pressure and got treatment, too.

N/N: What are some of the symptoms you've been talking about?

AI: I was always thirsty. I drank loads of water and went to the bathroom often at night and during the day. I was heavy. I didn't do a lot of activities. I was chained to a desk and doing my work. I had others signs I didn't know were related to the disease, maybe they're just peculiar to me. I got big itchy bumps. They were white, sort of like the ones that pop out after being bitten by a mosquito. I got those for quite a few months and I had no idea where they were coming from. Once I was diagnosed and got my sugar levels within an acceptable range, I stopped getting them.

N/N: Did you gain much weight?

AI: It was just creeping on because of the way I was eating. I was staying at the office for lunch. I took quick and easy things to eat. I wasn't doing any exercise.

N/N: What have you done to turn that around?

AI: I walk more. I hardly ever walked anywhere except to get to the job. I'm still not great at it. I'm working at it even though it's been three years. Having diabetes involves quite a significant lifestyle change. I'm watching my diet and managing it quite a bit better.

N/N: What tests did the doctor do for the diagnosis?

AI: We didn't have a doctor here. We had nurses who checked my sugar levels. They wanted me to do some other tests and urinalysis so they gave me a referral. I had to go to Yellowknife.

N/N: So how do you manage life with type two diabetes?

AI: I'm on medication. I exercise more. I'm on a diet. I monitor my sugar levels and I see a doctor every three months. I'm also trying to lose weight.

N/N: When you're watching what you eat, what are you watching for?

AI: I don't take cereals with a high sugar content and I'm aware of natural sugar contents. I look for lean meats and so on. I didn't really pay much attention to these things before. I just ate anything.

N/N: Do you still find it hard to stick to the diet?

AI: Right now, I'm not on what I would call a diet. I just watch what I eat and how much I eat. I recently had a checkup and a lot of blood work done. The intern said I'd be able to stop taking my medication and manage with food and exercise. That's my next step. I want to work myself out of the medication. Habits are hard to break but you just have to do a little bit more planning.

N/N: Do you have a sweet tooth?

AI: I didn't think I did but I developed a sweet tooth. I'm more of a potato and gravy person.

N/N: What can happen to you if you don't do what the doctors have told you to do?

AI: A lot of things. I'm more susceptible to heart disease, the possible amputation of limbs or blindness. I pay attention.

N/N: What do you feel like when you have too much sugar in your body?

AI: The bumps drive me crazy. I use to get a lot of headaches, every day in the afternoons, mostly at work. Now I know if I eat something sweet I've got to walk home or work it off.

N/N: What's the cause of type two diabetes?

AI: I think the indications are that it's caused primarily because of over-eating and poor lifestyle. I want people to know they can make a change and prevent it before they get it.

N/N: Did you know people with diabetes before you got the disease?

AI: I knew a few but no one close to me or that I would go up to and ask about it. There's no one in my family. I'm breaking new ground.

N/N: Have you ever had a reaction?

AI: Before I got on the proper drugs, I had a couple of lows that were pretty scary for me. It was really frightening. It was almost like I was passing out. I couldn't think very well and I had to get something into me right away. I also got the shakes until I calmed down and got stabilized.

N/N: What was your worst experience?

AI: I was going to the store. I made sure I had a snack and went on my way. I wasn't even gone an hour and a half. I was driving my friend home and I had to stop. I thought I couldn't go any further. I checked my blood sugar and had a snack with some juice. I was frightened by that.

N/N: So you had food on you?

AI: Yes. I always used to take quite a lot of stuff with me. I still carry snacks like some crackers or a granola bar.

N/N: Do you think people with diabetes are getting enough attention in Nunavut?

AI: I think there's a need for a lot more education. My focus would be to get the word out and do more prevention work. We have good health care.

I think we get good service but it would be nice if we didn't need it. By this I mean if we prevented it, we wouldn't require the services.

N/N: Have you done anything to get this going?

AI: I've done a few workshops to bring up awareness for people in this community.

N/N: Is diabetes starting to affect the Inuit population?

AI: Right now there are no numbers. We need to get the info out.

There's probably quite a few people out there who've got diabetes and don't even know it. There's an increase in obesity and that can lead to type two diabetes.

N/N: What would be an ideal program to manage diabetes in Nunavut?

AI: I'd like to take a magic wand and make it all go away. I guess there needs to be a way for people in each community to spread the information and provide support systems. I find people go around whispering about diabetes like you've got some dreaded, dangerous thing that they might catch. It's hidden. There's a lot of education that needs to go on.

N/N: How do you feel now, three years later?

AI: I have to say I wish I had known more. I would have preferred not to be diabetic at all. It takes a lot of management.

You have to be conscious of everything you do and the potential outcome of everything you do.

However, I'm comfortable with it. I'm managing reasonably well.

If I have to have something, diabetes is okay. If I have to have something, I'll take that one.

N/N: Where are you from originally?

AI: I'm from Nova Scotia.

N/N: Where was your first Northern stop?

AI: My family and I lived in Fort Smith when it was all one big territory. We were there for just over three years and I've been in Cambridge Bay for the last 24 years.