Max John Domi is a National Hockey League (NHL) player and an advocate for professional athletes living with diabetes.

Domi was born on March 2, 1995 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. His passion for ice hockey started at an early age thanks to his father Tie Domi, a famed former NHLer who played for the original Winnipeg Jets, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and the New York Rangers. Max was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 12 following a tournament in Detroit. Since then, he has used an insulin pump everyday to regulate his blood glucose level and during games, Domi is excused every 15 minutes to test his blood glucose level. His book No Days Off: My Life with Type 1 Diabetes and Journey to the NHL , co-authored with writer Jim Lang, shares his coming-of-age story and his pursuit for the NHL while living with diabetes. To this day, a portion of the proceeds from his books help fund type 1 diabetes research with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) – a leading global Type 1 diabetes research organization.

Domi’s professional playing career started in 2011 when he was selected eighth overall by the Kingston Frontenacs at the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Entry Draft. He was eventually traded to the London Knights, where he helped them capture the OHL Championship in 2012. That year, he also won the bronze medal for Ontario at the 2012 World U-17 Hockey Challenge. Domi was a member of the gold-medal winning 2015 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and was named the tournament’s Best Forward.

His junior career caught the attention of the Arizona Coyotes, who drafted him 12th overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. During his time with the Coyotes, Max wore the number 16 to pay homage to former NHL player Bobby Clarke, who also lives with Type 1 diabetes but accomplished many things throughout his career despite his condition. Since then, Domi has also suited up for the Montreal Canadiens before landing in Columbus with the Blue Jackets where he currently plays.

Today, Domi is the face of the Dexcom G6 CGM system, a sensor that sends real-time glucose readings wirelessly to a compatible device. He continues to share his story and be an aspiration to those with diabetes who dream of playing professional sports.

— Written by Nargol Ghazian