Jen Alexander's swim will just brush the area near Cape Tormentine before carrying on to Nova Scotia. (Courtesy of Jen Alexander)

A Nova Scotia woman with juvenile diabetes has begun her swim from P.E.I. to New Brunswick and then to Nova Scotia Scotia, covering 32 kilometres.

If Jen Alexander, 33, completes her swim, it will be the first time anyone has been known to swim all the Maritime provinces in one go. She is confident she can complete it, despite the complications her diabetes will bring.

"It's something I have to deal with every 30 minutes during the swim," said Alexander. "I'll stop and check my blood sugar and take more insulin or less insulin as need be and take sugar, more or less sugar."

Alexander is using a waterproof insulin pump that injects insulin every three minutes.

The swim is expected to take 15 to 22 hours, and began a little after 2 p.m. Friday.

The planned route begins at Bell's Point, just east of the Confederation Bridge, brush against New Brunswick near Cape Tormentine, and carry on to Aggermore Point in Nova Scotia. But where Alexander actually goes will depend on the currents.

"I'm not at all fussy about where I land," she said.

This is not Alexander's first long-distance swim in the Maritimes. Last year, she completed a double crossing of the Northumberland Strait, from New Brunswick to P.E.I. and back.

She attempted to swim the English Channel in 2006, but was blown off course about halfway across. She plans to try again next year.

with files from Kevin Yarr