A 43-year-old scientist from Winnipeg has turned his personal battle with type 1 diabetes into a career dedicated to research and improving patient care. Dr. Dylan MacKay’s journey began at 13, when unquenchable thirst and rapid weight loss led to a diagnosis that reshaped his life and later his professional path.
The diagnosis that changed everything
MacKay recalls the moment clearly. After drinking a two-liter bottle of water in one sitting, he noticed an ad from the Canadian Diabetes Association. The ad resonated with him. He told his mother he likely had diabetes, and a urine test the next day confirmed it. Within hours, he was admitted to Janeway Children’s Hospital in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where he spent a week learning to inject insulin and manage the condition.
“I didn’t know anyone with type 1 diabetes at the time,” he says. “I didn’t meet another person with it until university.” The sudden responsibility required him to take charge of his own care. His parents allowed him to manage his treatment, a choice that built his independence. “It might not suit everyone, but it worked for me.”
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At the time, Newfoundland had no diabetes camps or support networks. MacKay handled blood sugar management alone. Balancing insulin, food, exercise, and stress became a daily challenge that later shaped his research focus.
From patient to researcher
His diagnosis influenced his career path. His mother, a registered dietitian, had already sparked his interest in the relationship between food and health. The experience is visible in the detailed tattoo sleeve he wears. The artwork, created by his cousin, depicts the discovery of insulin. It includes lab dogs from Frederick Banting and Charles Best’s experiments and early insulin vials. “For my survival, animal research was essential,” he says. “I have deep respect for it.”
His research on postprandial glucose responses—how food affects blood sugar after meals—is personal. “For someone with type 1 diabetes, every meal is a test,” he says. His own experience bridges the gap between lab data and real-world patient needs.
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Chronic stress can also disrupt blood sugar control, a factor he considers in his work.
A life beyond the lab
Outside his work, MacKay stays active. He met his wife while working as a bouncer. She is now a nurse practitioner and director of the University of Manitoba’s nurse practitioner program. They have two teenagers, three dogs, and a large garden where pumpkins and apple trees grow. “It cuts down on mowing,” he jokes.
His competitive side appears in rec hockey, coaching his daughter’s ringette team, and pursuing research funding. Securing grants is a constant challenge in a field with limited resources. “I fell in love with research because I admired the lifestyle of my supervisors,” he says. “It’s a team effort. Science thrives on curiosity and collaboration.”
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That teamwork is central to his outlook. “Living with type 1 diabetes shows the importance of community,” he says. “I’m alive because of researchers, dogs, and people who worked to find solutions. Humans survive by working together.”
For MacKay, the tattoo sleeve serves as a reminder of progress and the work still needed. His research, like his life, combines science, persistence, and the belief that small changes matter.
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