Sweet Buddy

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1Diabetes) is one of the most common paediatric endocrine illnesses. The incidence of T1Diabetes continues to increase worldwide, and it has serious short-term and long-term implications. Timely diagnosis and treatment helps to ensure that the children continue to lead a normal life.

Art for Causes (AFC), a Not for profit registered in 2014, has been helping children in areas of education and healthcare in Hyderabad. In November 2021, AFC along with Unicorpus Foundation (a Not for profit established in 2015 with the mission to provide ethical, affordable, compassionate, and holistic health care services through consultation, in patient, surgical, rehab, palliative care and counselling services) initiated “Sweet Buddy Programme,” to help diabetic children by providing them necessary medication in consultation with a paediatric endocrinologist and a dietician.

Many children from underprivileged backgrounds, and their families struggle with basic medical and dietary requirements and lack the understanding of diabetes management. As a part of the Sweet Buddy Programme, the participating children and their parents meet a paediatric endocrinologist and a dietician on a monthly basis and their progress is closely monitored. They are provided with necessary medication, glucometers and then linked to a support group to discuss and learn how to manage T1Diabetes.

It is imperative for children with T1 Diabetes to take insulin as a part of their treatment to manage blood sugars. These children/teenagers are entirely insulin deficient and need insulin injections every day to control their blood sugars. Generally, two different types of insulin (rapid acting insulin and long acting insulin) are needed to handle blood sugar needs both after eating and between meals. There is no one-size-fits-all insulin schedule. The number of daily injections a child needs depends on their diabetes management plan. In addition to insulin, it is equally important to monitor blood sugar levels four to five times in a day. Following the proper treatment plan, which includes diet, intake of adequate insulin and monitoring blood sugar levels helps children stay healthy.

Taking into account the expensive medication, the essential need to use consumables (test strips to monitor blood sugars, lancets, needles, keto strips) and the lack of understanding of nutrition, such children have a higher chance of massive mismanagement of their blood sugars leading to a life threatening scenario.

At present, there is no known cure for T1Diabetes and these children will need treatment for the rest of their lives. As a part of this programme we envisage bringing these children up to a certain stage where they can entirely understand and manage their blood sugar levels on their own and lead a normal life, just like other children.

At the moment, we are supporting 23 children and keen to expand this programme to help many more needy children. We already have many children who are waitlisted and eager to join in the programme.