Act On Diabetes. NOW.

On November 14, 2010, the International Diabetes Federation published "A Call To Action on Diabetes".

This CALL TO ACTION focuses on 3 areas:

1)  IMPROVE health outcomes of people with diabetes.

2)  PREVENT the development of type 2 diabetes.

3)  STOP discrimination against people with diabetes.

PLEASE NOTE:  Candy Hearts is especially committed to the first focus area - IMPROVE THE HEALTH OUTCOMES OF PEOPLE WITH DIABETES through the provision of essential care (such as insulin).  You can help this effort by supporting the campaign to raise awareness and funds for the Life For A Child program.

In September, 2011 the diabetes community will have a ONCE IN A GENERATION opportunity to appeal our case in front of worldwide leaders during the UN Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD's.) before the opening of the main UN General Assembly Session.  The UN Summit on NCD's has the potential to secure commitment from Heads of Government for a coordinated global response to NCD's, substantially increase financial resources, and save millions of people from premature death and debilitating health complications.  (NCD's include the following:  cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory disease.)

For a tangible reference, please consider that The HIV/AIDS Special Session held in 2001 resulted in a Heads of State Declaration of Commitment that paved the way for an urgent international response.  It also lead the way to a Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria.  It was, most definitely, a turning point in the epidemic.

We, the diabetes community at large, are being called upon to step up and ACT NOW.  We need the voices of every single person from every corner of the globe who has ever been affected by any type of diabetes to join forces and create public outcry and RAGE about diabetes.  We will have only ONE chance to dialog with world leaders and Heads of States in September 2011.  IDF has the arguments, evidence and solutions ready, but WE must respond to their call to action if the Summit is going to be successful.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1)  Sign and share the "I AGREE" petition by clicking on the link.  IDF has a goal of reaching (at least) ONE MILLION clicks to this page before September 2011.  Now, I KNOW us social media types can make that happen!!!!  While you're there, be sure to grab a badge so others can check it out as well!

2)  Talk about the burden of diabetes and the risks of complications to anyone and everyone, including your local government leaders.  Be relentless in this effort and do NOT allow diabetes to be viewed as something that can be passed over as something that does not require massive global attention.

3)  Stay tuned to Candy Hearts.  I will make every effort to provide timely information as it becomes available on this united journey to the UN Summit on NCD's.  You can connect with Candy Hearts on Facebook and/or subscribe to posts by entering your email address in the box near the top, right hand side of the page.

Act on Diabetes.  NOW.

1 person dies from diabetes EVERY 8 seconds.

"No country is immune to diabetes. No country has all the answers to this common enemy. No country has yet managed to reverse the rising prevalence. Defeating diabetes will take every ounce of commitment and ingenuity that we can summon."    Jean Claude Mbanya, IDF President

PLEASE HELP SAVE THE LIFE OF A CHILD WITH DIABETES

A NEW FOCUS

NaBloPoMo Day 13

Without insulin, a child with type 1 diabetes will die within a week.

International Diabetes Federation's Life For A Child Program

When I was a child, our family moved every 2 - 3 years.  At one point, we lived in the Philippines.  I was in the third grade and distinctly remember the immense poverty that surrounded the naval base we lived on.  I have a vivid memory of  looking through a fence after school one day watching a young boy, about my age, working in the field just beyond our house.  I stood there watching him for quite sometime.  I was stunned that he was out there chopping away at the crop, knowing his family probably didn't have enough food for dinner that night.  Our eyes met a few times.  Those minutes left an impression in my mind that I've never been able to forget.

For several years, I have felt a deep rooted desire to find children with diabetes in countries like the Philippines and help them gain access to the insulin the need for survival.  The image of a mother holding her child as she slips into DKA before dying...an innocent child moaning and crying as her body succumbs to the inevitable outcome...the fear of not having access to insulin....these images haunt me.

Oh, but I'm just a mom.

Here.

In the U.S.A.

Where I can leisurely take for granted the medical supply companies, and pharmacies, and insulin pump manufacturers....where I can rest knowing that our closet is full of the supplies we need, our refrigerator stocked full of the insulin she needs, and our health insurance ready to renew the warranty on Sugar's insulin pump.

Meanwhile, they're still there.

Dying.

Imagine having to walk for hours and hours wearing flip flops or bare feet just to access enough insulin for a week or two. Imagine only being able to obtain enough insulin for survival...and then having to face life with a myriad of complications for which you cannot obtain medical care...all because there wasn't enough insulin available to help you prevent said complications in the first place. Imagine being a parent who must make the decision between paying for the insulin to save your child's life or the food and shelter for the rest of your family.

I can't stand it.

Our family will be supporting a new organization this year.  Yes, we will still support JDRF and other diabetes advocacy organizations as best we can.  We will still have a walk team, but our goal may be cut in half - or more - I'm not sure yet.  What I DO know is this:  We are going to do whatever we can -- bake sales, car washes, letter campaigns, ANYTHING -- to support an organization that is on the front lines of providing life saving insulin to children in the developing world.

The International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child Program is currently supporting 4,000 children in 26 countries worldwide.  They have a goal to reach 15,000 children by the end of 2011.

We plan to help them.

Candy Hearts has launched an initiative to raise $100,000 to support the 

Life For A Child campaign. 

I don't really know how we're going to do it.
It may take me the rest of my life.
I'm not really sure.

Click HERE to learn more about the meaning of the blue circle symbol for diabetes.