The Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association - New Zealand is headed by the following five committee members.

Garry Dyet RSHD Enviromental Health, MSc Public Policy, Cert. NZ Town Planning

Garry lives in Te Awamutu and is the Deputy Chief Executive on the Waipa District Council and the convenor of DESA NZ for 2006.

He is a planner by trade and has a masters degree in Public Policy. Garry has been a type 1 diabetic since 1971 and is actively involved with badminton, golf, fishing, hunting, cycling and tennis. He has used a MiniMed insulin pump to control his diabetes for the last 5 years and is actively supported in his pursuits by his wife Donna and two children.

After 35 years on insulin Garry confesses to still be learning the finer points of managing his exercise regime, and sees DESA NZ as an ideal forum to improve diabetes management and to open doors to new challenges.

Peter Mair

Peter is a primary school teacher, married with 3 children. He has had type 1 diabetes for 18 years, developing it when he was 26. Tennis, waterskiing, wakeboarding and cycling are some of his sporting passions.

He enjoys becoming involved and challenging himself with rides such as the circuits of Lake Taupo and Mt Taranaki and is contemplating the K1 later this year.

For the past 3 years he has been on pump therapy. This has significantly helped glucose control during endurance sports. He feels fortunate to be part if the DESA team, working with like minded people who offer individual and specialised skills.

Mark Leydon MSc NZRD

Mark currently works as a Dietitian for the Waikato Regional Diabetes Service. In the past he has worked with a number of athletes (as a Sports Dietitian) without diabetes and sports nutrition is an area that still interests him.

He enjoys working with individuals who have diabetes and who have problems with their blood glucose control while exercising. For a number of years Mark has been actively involved with individuals who are on pump therapy.

His own sporting interests include road cycling and Tai Chi. He is relatively new to cycling, but enjoys the challenge of cycling up hills and pushing himself! In October he completed the K2 ride (200 km around Coromandel) and at this stage plans to do it again next year!!

Mike Erceg (BTchLn)-Bachelor of Teaching and Learning, (GCICT) Graduate Certificate of Information Technology Education

Mike is a primary school principal living in the Waikato. He was diagnosed in 1997 as a Type 2 diabetic. Initially he used a tablet and then in 1999 begun using insulin to help control my diabetes

Mike believes in keeping active as much as possible to give a good life balance. He plays competitive tennis throughout the year and finds it a real challenge to keep his diabetes in good control when playing sport.

It has been difficult to find out how other diabetics manage themselves when playing sports. With DESA there is an opportunity to share what works to control diabetes for some people during physical activity. Already Mike has found it invaluable to have the opportunity to talk to other members of the committee on these related issues, and looks forward to learning more.

Damian Wiseman MPhEd, BPhEd, BSc, PG Dip Sports Med (Otago)

Damian was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 23 while studying at University in Dunedin. He now works in the health and fitness industry in Auckland. He spends his time working with people with diabetes, both type 1 and 2, running his own gym business, coaching and training one on one.

A competitive cyclist for more than 16 years, Damian has chosen to focus on track cycling and in particular, over the last 5 years, sprinting. He often trains up to 20 hours per week in the gym, on the track, the road and the erg. Managing diabetes with training and competition has been an enormous challenge that, when everything goes according to plan, makes everything worthwhile.

Since diagnosis, Damian has seen the benefit of sharing experiences and information with other people with diabetes and the usefulness of bringing DESA to New Zealand.

Cathie Shaw

Married with one child and works at Waipa District Council as the Council Secretary.

Husband diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes five years ago and is still coming to grips with the lifestyle changes involved with that.

Sporting interests include Rugby (currently life member of Hautapu Sports 2006 Waikato Club Champions), Netball (currently Board Member of Netball Waikato who hold the 2006 Netball NPC known as the Scottwood Champs) and Harness Racing (own and race horses as well as Board member for the Cambridge Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club and NZ Standardbred Breeders Association).

Matt Gunn

Married with no kids - After 15 years in radio Matt is currently a producer/host at RadioSport in Auckland.

Matt was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes while living in the Lithgow in the Blue Mountains of NSW in 1995, and spent several weeks in hospital to get back on track. At the time it was a relief to know what was wrong with the body , and he immediately started all the changes that were needed. "That was just about EVERYTHING in my life."

"I feel the 'Coming to terms with' side of diabetes is shocking early, easier with time, but  then a constant process of making sure as you get older you are increasing knowledge about what it is I have. I hope DESA can help us all with the physical side of our lives, through a sharing of new information and accumulated knowledge."

Basketball , netball , golf and Rugby League are Matt's real sports passions.

"But usually if its on I watch , whatever that may be....."