Competition to raise awareness of diabetes among youth

Sponsored by Batswadi Pharmaceuticals, the competition asks for entrants between the ages of 13 and 19 years around South Africa to reveal how they deal with living with diabetes. In so doing, they will inspire and motivate others living with this condition.

Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or alternatively, when the body cannot effectively use the insulin the pancreas produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar. Type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent or childhood-onset) is caused by a lack of insulin production. Without proper treatment, both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can have serious consequences. Type 2 diabetes (formerly called non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset) results from the body's ineffective use of insulin. Type 2 diabetes comprises 90% of people with diabetes around the world, and is usually associated with excess body weight and physical inactivity. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 180 million people worldwide have diabetes. This number is likely to more than double by 20301.

While most children and young adults with diabetes have Type 1, soaring obesity rates are making type 2 diabetes, a disease that used to be seen primarily in adults over age 45, more common among young people.

Diabetes presents unique issues for children and teens. Simple activities, like going to a birthday party, playing sports, or staying overnight with friends - need careful planning. Daily, children with diabetes may need to take insulin or oral medication. They may also need to check their blood glucose levels several times during the day and must remember to make correct food choices. Furthermore, during adolescence, it can be difficult to control blood glucose levels and this could be because of bodily changes affecting a teen's metabolism4.

“Awareness about the importance of how to live healthily when one has diabetes, as well as how to avoid developing type 2 diabetes, is essential amongst the youth in South Africa - where the diabetes epidemic is reaching massive proportions.

That being said, teenagers with the condition can lead normal and relatively unaffected lives if they know how to administer their treatment optimally and how to eat and exercise so as to give their bodies the best chance to maintain a healthy balance. Good support from their families is also an important factor,” says Professor Francois Bonnici, a diabetes specialist based in Cape Town.

Interested teens are requested to contact the competition facilitator Leigh Hopewell at The Write Agency for more information:

Email:
Postal address: PO Box 949 Witkoppen 2068
Fax: 011 467 5372
Tel: 011 467 5368

Stories need to be a maximum of 250 words and can be submitted either by email, fax or post to the competition facilitator at the above details. The deadline for this competition is 30 May 2008.

“We have launched this competition to further encourage the youth to take steps to manage their disease in order to enjoy a long and healthy life. We are looking for role models who can help us convey this message - real life examples of how having diabetes can still mean that teenagers can enjoy a free spirited and fun youth,” says Lynette Van Wyk, Marketing Director at Batswadi Pharmaceuticals.

Although diabetes is a serious condition with potentially critical complications and requires lifelong monitoring and treatment, advances in management, including control and monitoring of blood glucose levels today has made diabetes far less difficult to deal with.