Dessi Zaharieva is an Instructor and Exercise Physiologist currently working in Pediatric Endocrinology at Stanford University under the supervision of Dr. David Maahs. Dessi’s research focuses on strategies to manage blood glucose control around exercise in youth and adults with type 1 diabetes. She is also working on implementing exercise education and monitoring physical activity patterns and behaviours in newly diagnosed youth with type 1 diabetes. Dessi’s key milestones: 24 years living with type 1 diabetes; earned a bronze medal at ITF taekwon-do world championships