REVORDiabetes – Type 1 Diabetes Initiative
REVORD that stands for Revisualising Our Diabetes was a type 1 diabetes initiative started in 2015 when the concept was recognized amongst the top 50 innovations in the Intel-DST Digital India Challenge. The initiative was later taken forward for the community empowerment with a goal to unite type 1 diabetes patients and their families by building a virtual community through social media platforms for diabetes education and get together on several occasions.
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to allow sugar (i.e. glucose) to enter cells to produce energy.
Different factors, including some viruses or genetics, may contribute to type 1 diabetes. Usually, type 1 diabetes appears during childhood and adolescence but it can develop in adults as well.
Despite active research, type 1 diabetes has no cure. Treatment focuses on managing blood glucose levels with insulin, diet, and lifestyle to prevent complications.
Type 1 diabetes signs and symptoms can appear relatively suddenly and may include:
- Irritability and other mood changes
- Fatigue and weakness
- Blurred vision
- Increased thirst
- Frequent urination
- Bed-wetting in children who previously didn't wet the bed during the night
- Extreme hunger
- Unintended weight loss
Type 2 Diabetes Education
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body metabolizes sugar (glucose) in blood. Glucose is an important source of fuel for your body.
With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists the effects of insulin or doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels. (Insulin is a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells).
Type 2 diabetes used to be known as adult-onset diabetes, but today more children are being diagnosed with the disorder, probably due to the rise in childhood obesity. There's no cure for type 2 diabetes, but losing weight, a good balanced diet and exercising can help manage the disease. If diet and exercise aren't enough to manage your blood sugar well, you may also need diabetes medications prescribed by a doctor or insulin therapy.
Diabetes Caregivers Training Program
Family members as caregivers perform activities such as assisting with medication management, preparing meals, reminding the patient to check his/her blood glucose levels, or taking the patient to doctor appointments. Therefore, their education and skill development are equally important.
"Caregivers Burnout" due to lack of/incorrect/incomplete information about the condition, shortage of health services, failing to get help from other family members, friends etc, further impacts the health of patients.
The program was conducted in collaboration with multiple organisations including EcDeesha Foundation, Peoples Training and Research Center and Yog Dhyan Foundation.
SportyGo – Sports Event
The sports event, SPORTYGO (in collaboration with Delhi Athletics Federation and Athletics Association of India for children and adolescents aged 6–16 years), with a gathering of more than 500, was held on 3rd November 2019 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi. Diabetes Fighters sponsored 25 children with Type 1 diabetes to participate in whichever event they wished. Two of them also won a silver medal and a cash prize.
Mega Sensitization Drive with Delhi Metro
DFighters Trust received an opportunity from Delhi Metro Railway Corporation to conduct the diabetes awareness campaign at 10 different metro stations for 10 days.
We took signatures from many commuters as well as on an online petition, to support our cause to "ACT NOW FOR DIABETES RIGHTS."
More than 10,000 people were sensitized about diabetes and its types. The volunteers chosen for the cause were either people with diabetes or caregivers or social work students.
We thank iVolunteers and Yog Dhyan Foundation — the organisations who supported us in management and volunteering.
ACT Now for Diabetes Rights – 26 November
Diabetes Fighters Trust, in association with New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), organized an event "ACT NOW FOR DIABETES RIGHTS" on 26 November 2019. The platform advocated for the right to life with access to insulin, right to diabetes education, right to information regarding diabetes and right to a better quality of life.
The event strived to succeed in campaigning for health equity, research and innovation, capacity building and reaching the unreached through imparting education, discussion on existing policies and stepping towards a better life for the underprivileged.
The whole idea was to highlight some of the challenges faced by patients and also by some of the healthcare providers in addressing the critical challenges faced by not only their patients but their immediate kins and the society at large. Part of the sponsorship was offered by Peoples Training and Research Centre.
The technical discussion planning and moderation was conducted with the support from Ramaiah International Centre for Public Health Innovations, where Dr. Nayanjeet Choudhury, Director RICPHI, himself moderated the panel discussion for 1.5 hours.
The platform brought together several talents on the stage to attract the audience. The whole program was planned, organised and implemented by volunteers with type 1 diabetes and supported by other voluntary organisations.
The event was attended by a representative group of patient advocates, people from the provider's side, doctors, market leaders, government officials and policymakers from different parts of the country.
