No Days Off: My Life with Type 1 Diabetes and Journey to the NHL

by Max Domi

One of the NHL’s most talented young stars shares his inspiring coming-of-age story about following his dreams after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. A portion of proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to JDRF, the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research.“Max, you have type 1 diabetes,” the doctor said. My mom and I looked at each other. For her, time stood still for a second as our entire future as a family shifted. But I had no clue what the diagnosis meant. So I said the first thing that came to mind. “Can I still play hockey?” As a kid, when Max Domi was asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, he only ever had one a hockey player. Growing up the son of a professional hockey player—Tie Domi—Max saw from an early age what it took to make the grit, talent, and the support of a team. Over countless hours in the garage, at the rink, and in the gym, Max chased his dream. It seemed that Max was born to be on the ice. But then, when he was twelve years old, Max started getting sick. And sicker. Eventually, he and his family learned the Max had type 1 diabetes. Overnight, Max and his family found their lives upended. All Max wanted was to be a normal kid, but suddenly, the simplest things—a game of basketball with friends, a family meal, a school field trip—were complicated with a thousand different considerations. Would people notice or make fun of him if he carried his blood-testing kit everywhere? Would his teammates think he was weak if his blood sugar went low at hockey practice? How much insulin did he need after a meal? And all the while, the fear of what might happen if things went wrong hung over his head. Max had to grow up quickly. As he struggled to find his new normal, Max slowly began to realize that overcoming his disease demanded the same qualities that it took to be a hockey player—mental and physical toughness, maturity, and the love and care of family and friends. Bit by bit, he learned—sometimes the hard way—not just to control his diabetes, but to turn it into an advantage. If managing his disease was going to demand that Max be stronger, more prepared, and more disciplined than anyone else, then he wouldn’t just be good at those he’d be the best. He’d do whatever it took to move him closer to his dream of playing in the NHL. Inspiring, heartwarming, and exciting, No Days Off is a memoir about what it’s like to be a kid whose world is turned upside down, and what it takes to face adversity.

Genres: Sports, Memoir, Nonfiction, Hockey, Biography, Medical, Autobiography

223 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2019

Reviews

[Mel {horrorandaroughcollie} · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And for anyone else living with the disease, it won't stop you, either."

Was there any other way to finish this book? I don't think so. This memoir is full of information. It made me realize just how dangerous diabetes can be.

Aside from his story, I think the best part is how raw and real it is. We all know it's non-fiction and a memoir, but Max also didn't sugar coat anything. There were some parts I was almost in tears. On the outside you see this professional athlete playing at the top level, living his dream, one that many people have but don't accomplish. But we honestly never know how hard some of these players work to get there. Or what they go through on a daily basis.

It truly is inspiring how much Max had to overcome to get to where he is. And still has live with, and will always have to live with. I have a new found respect for Max Domi, and I guarantee if you read this book, you will feel the same.

[Michael DeVagno · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Max's story. I'm a huge hockey fan and my daughter was diagnosed with T1D a month ago at age 11, almost the same age when Max was. I was also a huge Tie Domi fan growing up from his days with the NY Rangers. When I did a search to see if any NHL players have T1D I was surprised to learn about Max and that he had a book that I downloaded immediately. I found Max's story inspiring, gut-wrenching at times, and educational. The title says it all and I am living it first hand as a parent. It was a great story to a parent who is just learning how to deal with a child recently diagnosed with T1D. Max is truly a special kid, who I will continue to root for, support, and follow. A truly eye-opening book that should be read by all!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book. I found it was really interesting. Tie Domi was my favourite player growing up, so naturally I've always loved Max. Less hockey focused and more how he manages playing and living with diabetes. I would recommend for anyone who is a fan of Max.

[Chantal Côté · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This is not an autobiography. And I am a Habs therefore Max Domi is one of my favorites.

This is a documentary about how to live with type 1 diabetes. When starting the book, I strongly felt it was aimed at kids and teens to encourage them coping with the disease. You will not learn about his statistics, at which round he was drafted or his relationships with teammates. He mentions a girlfriend once 30 pages before the end. He is traded to Montreal 10 pages before the end.

Although I was a bit disappointed as I was expecting more of a biography, I have a new respect for Max Domi and his parents. He is indeed a model of discipline and tenacity.

[Brighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to preface this review by saying I am not at all interested in hockey. I read this book because it was one of the only books I could find about someone with T1D, which I have lived with for nearly three years at the time of writing.

This was alright. After explaining very basic things about T1D in the first few chapters, it was nearly all about hockey. When diabetes was discussed, it was either a potentially fatal situation or just glossed over to move on to hockey stuff. To be fair, hockey is Domi’s whole life. But diabetes is a massive part of the lives of anyone living with it and the people closest to them. I wish he’d talked about it more. He didn’t mention that he had a pump until he said he had switched off of it. For almost all people with T1D, getting a pump is a huge deal. Like, life-changing! But Domi hardly mentioned it. He also rarely gave specific numbers. He just said high or low. I wish he would have provided more numbers, to get a better understanding of how he managed being diabetic, and what high and low look like for him. Like, high for me is above 120 or so, but other people don’t consider themselves high until about 180. It’s highly individual, but he generalized it so much. He also went way out of his way to avoid saying “diabetic”. Like, I get some people are offended by it, but as an adjective, there’s no reason it should be offensive. As a noun, okay, sure. But an adjective? Nah, shouldn’t be at all offensive. So, I guess to sum it up, it’s an alright book, but not what I expected or wanted. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

[Emily N · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know and love someone with type 1 diabetes, this is a must read. In this book, Max did what no one has done for me in 24 years living with T1D, he made me feel understood and even “normal.” He reveals the constant, unseen struggles people with T1D face every day, and the dangers that come with this relentless disease, where one small decision can cost you your life. For others, it’s easy to underestimate how much it shapes every moment of a person’s life. This book opens your eyes to that reality in a deeply personal way.

[Kristin Martini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great resource for those with T1D and the people who love them. My son was dx with T1D 1.5 years ago and Max was one of the people we found when we searched “famous people with diabetes.” It’s a super comprehensive look as his life as an NHL player with diabetes and I think is a great entry point for anyone wanting to learn more.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person who has been T1D for a long time (since I was 6). I really appreciated Max's take and felt myself going "me too, dude" a lot. Would recommend to anyone who wants to know what living with T1D is like.

[Chloé-Hillen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Kelly (miss_kellysbookishcorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

All Max Domi ever wanted was to play hockey, and fulfill his dream of playing in the NHL. From promising young player making his way up the ranks of minor hockey, to a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes as a teenager, Domi, shares his story of following his dream, all while living with Type 1 diabetes. An inspirational narrative to encourage those who read it to never give up and always follow their dreams.

As a lover of books and the Montreal Canadiens, reading this book was a must for me! I knew only a little about Max as a player before he was traded to Montreal. And since his arrival here, have learned bits and pieces about his life outside of hockey. As a fan of the game, I enjoy getting to know players outside of hockey, and I commend Max for opening up about his life and journey. It was a quick and easy read from start to finish. I enjoyed getting to learn more about Max's life outside of hockey and everything he had to go through or change as a Type 1 diabetic to realize his ultimate dream. And everything he continues to have to do playing in the NHL to make sure he keeps his levels within the optimum range for him. Max gets real about how he wasn't always very good at being open about it, but this is his effort to raise awareness and show people there is nothing to be ashamed about. The story aspect is very well done! However, the writing in this book is very basic, so if you're expecting an amazingly crafted and written account, this isn't it.

I would definitely recommend this book to any hockey fan (particularly Habs fans), anyone with diabetes, and/or anyone looking for an inspirational account of achieving ones dreams in the face of adversity. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will go to JDRF, the leading global organization funding Type 1 diabetes research.

"Everyone talked about my diabetes like it was a struggle or a challenge, something that I suffered from. But I wasn't suffering. And the more I thought about it the more I saw my diabetes as a positive. I told myself that I had my diabetes to thank for my preparation and discipline; it was helping me to mature quicker than many of my friends. I realized those kinds of things would make me a better athlete. Being a diabetic was a part of who I was, but I would not let the disease define me. I would define the disease."

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. A special thank-you to NetGalley, and Simon & Schuster Canada for the opportunity to review.

[Ty Langlais · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've wanted to read this book for a long time. Max and I both suffer from type 1 diabetes and play hockey but he plays in the NHL. I learned that even the professionals have their own struggles whether we can see them or not. Overall, this book was very enjoyable and I recommend that everyone should read it because it's not just for people that enjoy hockey but for everyone going through struggles.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s so important that there are books like this out there for kids living with diabetes. Sure there was a ton of privilege in his life, access to personal trainers, chefs, etc. but he makes an effort of saying he was lucky to have access to those things. Does a good job of describing the risks of T1D, while also admitting that some people will be able to go through life without severe lows. Clear explanations of what type one diabetes is. It takes a village.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

had no idea what ppl with diabetes go through gr8 book

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLUF: A cautionary tale, easy read, good for T1ds, parents of T1ds, sports enthusiasts

Having a daughter who was diagnosed with T1d at 4 and who currently plays hockey, this book was a no-brainer for me to pick up and read. Domi does not get into the nitty gritty of T1d, but does cover some of the more interesting (and by that, I mean scary) aspects of the disease. The book is conversational in tone...an easy read that flows well, in a straight timeline, and covers highlights and big moments in Domi's life, both the positive and the negative.

T1Ds can be broadly broken up into two distinct categories...well controlled and uncontrolled. In reality, there's a lot of grey to both, with both having good days and bad, but the controlled (by and large) have a handle on T1d, have plans for nearly every situation, and even if they get surprised by a BG they weren't expecting they handle it. The uncontrolled...don't. Roller coasters, bad A1Cs, bad time in range, large standard deviations, and they find themselves too high and in DKA or too low and passing out. Perhaps unfairly, I put Domi in the latter category.

That shocked me a little. I expected an athlete who performs at the peak of his industry to have a handle on his disease, both due to the time he's had it (10ish years by the end of the book) and because he has the resources to have trainers, drivers, chefs, and a Diabetic Assistant Dog. Why he doesn't ALSO have a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) is beyond me...most of his BG issues would be resolved by using one of those devices, which we slapped on our then 4yo in 2018 at her diagnosis and which had been in common use for over a decade.

The book is a quick read as Domi doesn't spend much time in any one area of his life, giving the reader the highlights, the lowlights, and some context and discussion about each. He profusely thanks those in his life that helped manage the disease, including his family, training staff, doctors, and friends, and several times takes responsibility for not managing his disease better. I would put a lot of the examples of him having dangerous low blood glucose in the realm of "cautionary tale" and hope that it inspires a young T1D reader to 1) act differently, 2) use the technology we have at our fingers now that would help avoid the situations Domi gets himself into.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly inspirational, sometimes funny, sad or touching at times, overall a very entertaining read and, most of all, an incredible way to learn more about this disease.

Max Domi has always been one of my favourite hockey players ever since I first saw him play at the 2015 WJC. Back then, his trademarked tongue-out goal celly is what first caught my eye, but I was always very fond of his playing style from that point onwards.

Until very recently, I did not know that Max was a diabetic. Reading about his story and the adversity he had to overcome throughout his life only made my respect for him grow tenfold. I highly recommend this book to just about anyone, but particularly people who suffer from the disease or know someone who does. It is packed with information, stories, anecdotes, and a lot of hockey talk.

[Brendan Kinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who was just diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in my mid twenties, I bought a bunch of books on the disease. I decided to start with this one and I’m glad I did. I had, and still have, a lot of fears about living with this disease. But Max Domi shows in this book that not only is a normal life possible, anything and everything is still possible. Your highest dreams are still possible, it just takes a little bit more planning and preparation. He doesn’t hide the scarier parts of diabetes, but he does show how he’s been able to overcome them while achieving and maintaining high levels of athleticism and determination. It’s a great look into the day to day struggle of athletic type 1 diabetics and I learned a lot. Great book!

[Erin Budrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was book #95 of the year for me and probably my favorite read of the entire year! I love hockey! Max Domi is already one of my favorite players in the NHL but as someone who has a chronic illness (different one than type 1 diabetes) this book was so empowering and inspiring! We are so much more than our illnesses and we cannot let them stop us. Everyone should be required to read this book. Living chronic illness is so much harder than people understand. There are literally NO DAYS OFF! this book would help people better understand the struggles people face. Truly enjoyed this read from start to finish. Go leafs go!

[Courtney Lavallee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth the read.

This novel let's you know your not in this disease alone. It also showed the ups and downs that come with this disease.

As a parent of a type 1 diabetic this book really hit home. Thankfully we havent had any close calls since diagnosis. The stuff Max did and put his body through scares me.

This book shows just how dangerous and uncontrollable type one diabetes is.

[Danny Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definately inspirational. This book goes in depth on growing up with type 1 diabetes. What Max has gone through to achieve his dream of playing in the NHL is very respectable. I see this being a great read for other children in a similar situation.

It was hard to relate to Domi's upbringing, likely because I am not the son of a former NHL players. Regardless, it was really inspiring and informative. A nice easy read!

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book! I really enjoyed reading Max's story, it endears you to his character as a true human-being. I loved reading the parts from his time in the OHL, that really touched home with me! We aren't given many clear opportunities to educate ourselves on T1D and what someone who has it faces in a day (let alone an athlete!) and I think that Max's story is a perfect example to learn from. Overall, a wonderful book!

[Emery Gravel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked reading about Max Domi’s path to becoming an NHL player! He faced a lot of challenges with his type I diabetes diagnosis, and it was nice to see the discipline and habits he instilled in his life to keep up with the pace. I recommend this book to anybody who lives with diabetes, or knows somebody living with it, and even if I myself don’t suffer from it, I still learned some facts about how it works and how people manage living with it.

[Ben Hutchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are at all involved in the T1D community or want to understand how challenging T1D is this book is outstanding. Max’s honestly around his life, successes and challenges brings true perspective to what living with T1 is like. As a father who’s son was diagnosed T1 at 5 months... thank you Max for writing this book!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting and decent read. It puts things into perspective how difficult it is to maintain a healthy lifestyle while being a professional athlete. It makes you realize how important health is in sport and the struggles that people need to overcome in order to perform as a professional athlete.

[Shannon Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a mom of 2 teenage boys who play hockey, I thought this was a great read! It helped me to understand what these hockey players go through to get to the big leagues, even when they are not living with type 1 diabetes. Max's journey made me aware of just how disciplined he has to be on a daily basis. Max found a place in my heart...so glad he chose to share his story! ❤️🏒

[Karolina Gasior · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw Max Domi play for the London Knights, and he became one of my favorite hockey players. I've followed his NHL career. I even thought about getting a Leafs jersey. I knew he had diabetes, but I didn't know the specifics. I've learned a lot about Max and his diabetes journey from this book. I like him even more now.

[Samantha Godfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a T1D mom this book hit home a few times for me. My son was diagnosed at 6, and is 10 now. I hope to share this book with him one day. The T1D stuff was emotional, scary and inspiring! The hockey stuff mostly flew over my head but was still very interesting.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was planning on giving 4 stars until I finished the Afterword which bumped it right up to 5. Enjoyed reading his journey, both to the NHL and with Type-1. Both inspiring and insightful, especially for this mom of a little T1D.

[Robert Groulx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un jeune homme incroyable

Je m’attendais à peu d’un livre écrit par un jeune de 24 ans. Quelle agréable surprise. Sa vie et sa vision de la vie, du hockey et du diabète sont de belle leçons à raconter. Merci Max.

[Pamela Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having helped out on a hockey team with a type 1 diabetic this was a fantastic read. The work ethic and dedication Max Domi has put in to get where he is is inspirational, I can't recomend this book enough

[Christy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading Domi’s No Days Off
Absolutely loved it! I definitely recommend it.
Very cool to hear his point of view of events I remember watching him in, Knights, Jrs, Coyotes
Read it! You won’t be disappointed 😊😊😊
Go Habs Go
🔵⚪️🔴