“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:
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:
TYPE – 2 DIABETES
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.
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.
The sports event, SPORTYGO(in collaboration with Delhi Athletics Federation and Athletics Association of India for children and adolescents(6-16 years)) , with a gathering of more than 500 was held on 3rd November 2019 at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Delhi, where Diabetes Fighters sponsored 25 children with Type 1 diabetes to participate in whichever event they wish. Two of them also won silver medal and a cash prize.
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 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.
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 and Dr. Ananth Ram, Program specialist-Health Systems, RICPHI presented about SHARPEN application and that the platform has been generously offered to Diabetes Fighters Trust to develop capacity building course related to Diabetes in the near future.
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.
Our panelists included Mr Amit Sen, a govt representative for Medtronic India,
Ms Manjari, Manager, Medtronic, Ms. Roma Batra, the Associate Director, Medical Education and PSP Coordinator at Eli Lilly and company, Dr Debashish Basu (the president at Diabetes awareness and You, a consultant at Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, former in-charge and founder at sugar clinic Apollo ) & Dr Rakesh(MBBS, MD, PG Dip Clinical Endocrinology & Diabetes, Assistant Secretary & Research Wing Head: Diabetes Awareness & You), West Bengal, Dr A.K. Vedwal Chief Functionary at Yog Dhyan Foundation, Dr Shalini Jaggi (Diabetes Consultant and Head, Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Speciality Centre, New Delhi & the Member Executive Council-RSSDI National and Joint Secretary, RSSDI- Delhi Chapter), Ms. Pragya Bakshi, Representative of Diabesties Foundation, Ms. Chhavi Chadha, representative of Blue Circle Diabetes Foundation, Ms. Shubhda Bhanot, Head Diabetes Educator at Medanta- the Medicity, Dr Anushree, diabetologist and type 1 diabetes advocate at JDF from Mumbai, and Dr Archana Sarda, physician and founder of Udaan, Aurangabad, India, Dr Ashish Ranjan (the Assistant Vice President of Medical Affairs Dept at 1mg, Dr. Subhash Chand and Dr. S.K Arya, Department of AYUSH, NDMC, Dr Apoorva Gomber community manager and co-founder at DIYA Foundation. Chief guest for the program was Ms. Rashmi Singh, Secretariat, NDMC.
The expected outcome of the program was focused upon bringing the key stakeholders from the providers as well as the Recipient’s side to discuss and start taking action on the Rights of People with Diabetes together, through their respective organisations and community groups. Many points discussed within the panel discussion were latest facts, facilities that are lagging behind and available, role of caregivers and patient advocates, increasing cost of the basic treatment, and steps to be taken in the near future.
Some of the actions already taken include capacity building online workshops for children and caregivers through experts, capacity building courses, letter to Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare for taking appropriate action and meeting the government officials to discuss the issues at various platforms.
“We have struggled and have been waiting for a cure for decades. Life has not been simple, but we have been stronger enough to face any challenges. We are determined to serve diabetes communities. We know about diabetes and serve through evidence-based research, innovation, activism & advocacy.”
