Children Living with Type 1 Diabetes in Rural India

Children in rural India diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes face significant challenges due to limited access to healthcare facilities. Their daily care involves multiple insulin injections (3-5 times a day), medications, glucometers, insulin strips, and both nutritional and psychological counselling. Annual medical check-ups further increase the cost of care. For children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, managing diabetes poses a major financial burden. Beyond financial hardships, a lack of awareness and understanding of the condition has led to preventable fatalities. Tackling these challenges is essential for safeguarding the lives, well-being, and proper care of these children.

Goals and Objectives:

• ● Establish a Centre of Excellence for Type 1 Diabetes to provide comprehensive support to children living with diabetes across multiple locations.
• ● Organize skill development programs to enhance the capabilities of healthcare professionals and caregivers in diabetes care.
• ● Actively promote advocacy and research related to diabetes.

Key Achievements (Till 2024):

• ● The project team has conducted 4 centre visits each in Kolhapur and Nagpur up to the year 2024.
• ● Eye screenings were conducted for 50 children each in Kolhapur and Nagpur.
• ● A total of 200 HbA1c tests were conducted in Kolhapur and 200 in Nagpur.
• ● Pathology tests were conducted for 50 patients each in Kolhapur and Nagpur.