Our Stories

Please feel free to contact any of us with questions or to just say hello- we love to chat with our fellow YT1’rs!

Co-Founders & Directors:

Ramya Hosak – Executive Director, Co-Founder
LinkedIn | Email

Hey Folks! My name is Ramya and 2025 marks my 18 year anniversary with type 1 diabetes (T1D)! Diagnosed as an adult, I really wanted for a community that “got” what living with T1D in adulthood felt like- hence Young and T1 was born!

13 years ago when co-founding Young and T1, I did not realize what an awesome resource this would be for myself- and now over 700 individuals in BC- for learning and sharing with one another. We meet at hosted events in person and also connect on social media about everything from tax credits to how to bolus for sushi (a tough one!).

Through meeting folks with similar daily struggles, and living with my husband Mark who also has T1D, I have learned that all bodies are different. One size does not fit all in T1D management and getting as much information available to us as possible is important. In conveying struggles AND successes with one another, we all benefit from shared knowledge.

I currently work as the Director of Development & Strategic Partnerships for the Kidney Foundation of Canada, BC & Yukon Branch, serve on the Board of Directors for the Fraser Health Authority, Big Sisters BC Lower Mainland, BC Diabetes Foundation and Co-Chair the T1D Lived Experience Advisory Committee at the new Breakthrough T1D Center for Excellence at UBC. These experiences further my passion for understanding and addressing needs in the health care sector.

YT1 was proud to work with other community stakeholders to successfully advocate for universal insulin pump coverage in BC (June 2018 Announcement) and  coverage of continuous glucose monitors (June 2021 Announcement) and are currently advocating for all Health Canada approved Automated Insulin Delivery Systems to be covered in BC – we are the only Province yet to do so.

Not- for- profit work is my passion. Social justice, community development & equal access to healthcare are issues incredibly important to me.

In my spare time I enjoy watching my favorite reality TV shows (Below Deck and the classic Survivor) and annoying my beautiful cat Penny.

Dr. Benjamin Mammon – Director of Operations, Co-Founder

Hello and welcome to YT1, a community of incredible people who will show you that anything is possible with T1D!

I’m a practicing family physician and I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to help youth living with T1D have an unforgettable summer at Camp Kakhamela, where I serve on the medical team as a camp doctor.

I’m so glad that we formed Young & T1, a place where like minded (and like-pancreased) people can come together, have fun, and advocate for our community. We’re always looking for new members or ideas, so feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or just want to chat!

Dr. Kristen Eng – Creative Director, Co-Founder | Email
My name is Kristen and I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2009! It has been quite a learning curve from starting out on multiple daily injections to using an insulin pump, but I made it! My husband and I are both dentists in the Lower Mainland (we met in UBC Dentistry School!) and I love working with patients. In my spare time, I love biking, running, skiing, ulti, baking, travelling and grabbing steeped tea (double double of course!) from Timmy’s with friends to try to win roll-up-the-rim. I think I’m on a winning streak of 4/15 but I may have lost count along the way…

Feel free to shoot me an e-mail about anything and everything as I thoroughly enjoy meeting and getting to know other T1Ds like myself! Or if you just want to go for a Tim’s run…I’d never say no to that…

Tyler Pearce – Director of Physical Activity, Co-Founder | Email

I go by the name of Tyler, I am currently a 3rd year carpentry apprentice at BCIT. Being active is the lifestyle I have always had and when I was diagnosed at the young age of 12, I wasn’t about to let diabetes change that. Having type 1 for just over 8 years now I have learned to keep on top of diabetes in my life and take control of it, not the other way around. Something that is attainable for us all. From hiking Mount Kilimanjaro to raise money for type 1 diabetes research, mountain biking, snowboarding or eating that delicious Nutella sandwich, and everything in between, I have experienced it all and how anything and everything can effect your sugars. Having a positive mindset with type 1 is just about the best thing you can do and that is why we are all here for you. We all have this thing for the long haul so lets make the most of it, nobody ever said you were in this alone or couldn’t meet some truly amazing people along the way. Help us make type 1 diabetes something that doesn’t control you and something you can truly overcome. Don’t hesitate to send a message or a question my way or even just to have a conversation about something we all share in common. And yes I LOVE Nutella!

Maureen Long, Director | Email

Hello, I’m Maureen! I was diagnosed when I was 8, and now that I have gotten the tedious details out of the way, I lead a pretty adventurous life and enjoy challenging myself.  I joined YT1 when I moved to Vancouver for university and was so happy to find this glorious Type 1 community! YT1 has been a wonderful source of friendship and knowledge. In case you are venturing out on into the great unknown, please ask me about:  scuba diving, rock climbing, cycle touring, backpacking, student exchange programs. I have worked through the logistics of supplies, temporary basal rates, and foreign foods and I’ve had some wonderful experiences, all while managing the DiabEETus.  It can be a struggle, it can be a triumph! Resilience is key.  As I have gotten to know my fellow Type one-ers, I have taken more responsibility for my health, and have the resources to improve the BS (blood sugars) and have fun while doing so! I like to meet people and I am at many of the YT1 events, come introduce yourself!

Jack Pirie, Director | Email

Hey there! My name is Jack, and I’ve lived with type 1 since I was nine years old. I am currently in my fifth year of undergraduate engineering at UBC, and by the time you’re reading this, I may or may not be doing my master’s here as well. I have lived in BC since 2017, but I originally hail from the far-away mythical land of Alberta. Go Flames go.

Diabetes is never fun for anybody but in my experience, getting the opportunity to talk to people that have had similar challenges with this dumb disease is incredibly valuable. Young and Type 1 is a fantastic community for meeting fellow type 1s in Vancouver and talking over these shared experiences. There are many more diabetics around than most people realize, and YT1 exists to bring us together and create a network to support each other.

I am always happy to help out my fellow diabetics with any questions about management strategies or any type 1 qualms. I am a Breakthrough T1D peer support counsellor, so I am down to chat over the phone or email, however I can be of service. I cannot offer non-diabetes related advice because I am pretty useless when it comes to most other things. I am also passionate about diabetes research and love talking science about the great work that happens surrounding our disease in Vancouver and across the world. There are many smart people working to fix us and our poor little beta cells, and all the different research going on is quite fascinating.

Thanks for making it to the end of my blurb. Looking forward to meeting you one day!

Chloe Thiessen | Email