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Diabetes in young no bar to ambition
November 20, 2008 5:10 PM
Sarah and her husband Steve Hitchins, chair of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation UK, met 18-year old Londoners Fabien Moreira-Phillips and Sam Williamson (L in the photo) and Michal Jelinski, Polish Olympic gold medallist for rowing and a diabetic (R). Sam's motto is " "Build diabetes round your life, not your life round diabetes."
To mark last Friday's World Diabetes Day which this year was on the theme of diabetes and young people, the European Parliament's working group on diabetes hosted a discussion with diabetic children and teenagers from across the EU and Olympic champions who have diabetes.
The meeting highlighted that although there are undoubtedly challenges faced by young people living with diabetes, it need not be a bar, with proper care and support, to achievement of the highest ambitions.
London's Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, a keen member of the working group and campaigner for well-funded research to find a cure for diabetes, commented:
"Every day over 200 youngsters develop diabetes, mainly 'Type 1' which is not triggered by diet or obesity. Countries with the highest rate of incidence are predominantly European, which puts an onus on Europe to take a lead."
"Unequal access to modern care means that life is more difficult than it need be for some young diabetics. The EU must facilitate an exchange of best practice, such as schools in Sweden which support children in coping with insulin injections and glucose testing, so all youngsters with diabetes are able to live full and active lives."
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