More Than Eight Decades Since Its Discovery, Insulin Is Still Not Reaching Many Who Require It To Live

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 24 Sep 2007 - 13:00 PST

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More than 85 years since 14-year-old Leonard Thompson received the first life-saving injection and more than 65 years since the death of Frederick Banting, insulin is still not reaching many of the world's most vulnerable citizens. No child should die of diabetes, yet many still do. All children with diabetes have the right to the best healthcare that their country can provide and to be given every chance to live a full and happy life.

In many developing countries, the average life-expectancy of children with diabetes is unknown because of a lack of awareness and evidence. Where the evidence does exist, it shows that many children die soon after diagnosis, or have poor control and develop early and devastating complications. The result is a poor quality of life and an early death. In some countries, there are few if any long-term survivors of type 1 diabetes. Mainly children and young adults die as a consequence of high levels of glucose in their blood, often the result of an incorrect or late diagnosis or a lack of expert care. Insulin is often unavailable or unaffordable. Many health centres may have no ability to measure blood glucose, and very few people with diabetes in developing countries can afford to self-monitor.

The International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child Program was created in 2000 to provide children in developing countries with life-saving medication. The program is run in partnership with Diabetes Australia-NSW and HOPE worldwide. It currently supports 700 children and adolescents with diabetes in 15 developing countries. Without this support many would die.

IDF President Professor Martin Silink stressed that appropriate care for children with diabetes should be seen as a basic right. "All children have the right to participate fully in all the experiences of childhood and adolescence, whether they have a chronic disease such as diabetes or not, and wherever they live in the world. All children with diabetes have the right to at least a minimum standard that can ensure survival." He continued by highlighting the need for diabetes representative organizations and international care agencies to provide life for children living with diabetes. "Until the healthcare systems of many developing countries are able to put in place effective systems to ensure an affordable supply of diabetes medication and care, organizations like Insulin for Life will need to provide help. Children with diabetes will continue to die without the support of initiatives like IDF's Life for a Child Program."

With the passage of United Nation's Resolution 61/225, by the General Assembly at the end of last year, it is hoped that governments will now do more to improve health systems. The resolution, entitled 'World Diabetes Day', calls for national policies for prevention, care and treatment of diabetes in line with sustainable development of healthcare systems. It also calls on relevant organizations, civil society, the private sector and the media to observe World Diabetes Day beginning November 14 this year.

One of the goals of the World Diabetes Day 2007 and 2008 is to increase the number of children supported by the Life for a Child program. The blue circle (diabetes pin) is the global symbol for diabetes and has been adopted as the logo for World Diabetes Day. IDF is encouraging everyone to wear the diabetes pin as income generated by the sales of the pin is used to support children in the programme.

Banting who, along with Charles Best, is credited with the discovery of insulin, sold the insulin patent to the government for $1 in order that people living with diabetes could easily access the life saving treatment. The Life for a Child Program is fulfilling his dream in many developing countries by sustaining children's lives. The programme was started in 2000 with a few children in three countries, it has continued to expand. Support will soon begin in Cameroon, where quality care will be provided for 100 of the neediest children in the country. In Bolivia, Tanzania and Rwanda, where self-monitoring is prohibitively expensive we will soon be able to provide very inexpensive self-monitoring for all children and adolescents with diabetes.

"The Life for a Child Program is vital and must continue to develop," Prof Silink added. "Over 240,000 children currently live with diabetes in developing countries1. "We call on individuals, associations and companies to act: one US dollar a day can help save a life!"

A dollar a day is a simple formula. Participants in the Life for a Child Program sponsor the neediest children who are treated at recognized diabetes centres in developing countries. Priority needs (insulin, syringes, monitoring, education, training) are determined, a budget is decided, and the centres provide thorough clinical and financial feedback. Participants also include associations such as Insulin for Life (ILF), Rotary International, and Diabetesvereniging Nederland. The cost to support a child is US$200-400 a year.

"The collaboration with Insulin For Life has been a tremendous resource. They have helped us not only to provide insulin and syringes, but also blood glucose monitoring facilities, HbA1c testing, education and technical support for health professionals when requested", said Dr Wim Wientjens, Vice-President of IDF. IDF is also working with IFL on emergency programmes resulting from wars, natural disasters and economic crisis. Both organizations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in order to come to help and save lives in acute crisis situations. Most recently for example, IFL successfully delivered much needed diabetes supplies to the IDF member association in Peru in the aftermath of the earthquake that hit the country on 15th August 2007.

References:

1. Diabetes Atlas third edition, International Diabetes Federation 2006

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of 200 member associations in more than 160 countries, representing almost 250 million people with diabetes, their families, and their healthcare providers. The mission of the IDF is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. Its main activities include education for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals, public awareness campaigns and the promotion and exchange of information. IDF is a non-governmental organization in official relations with WHO and associated to the United Nations' Public Department of Information. For more information, please go to http://www.idf.org.

The "Life for a Child" program enables children and adolescents with diabetes to receive the cost-effective standard care and diabetes education they need to stay alive. The program supports the care of children in countries like Bolivia, Azerbaijan, Nepal, Rwanda and Tanzania. Some highlights of support include: country-wide approaches, implementation of self-monitoring, extension of support from capitals to provincial centres, provision of HbA1c and biochemistry machines, establishment of registers, first recognition of type 2, and inaugural camps. For more information and if you want to contribute, please go to http://www.lifeforachild.org

Introduced by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1991, World Diabetes Day has been celebrated by diabetes representative organizations worldwide ever since. The date of 14 November was chosen because it marks the birthday of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, is credited with the discovery of insulin. For more information, visit http://www.worlddiabetesday.org.