After a year of fund raising, writing letters, collecting supplies, hard work and some fun, the 1993 Ukrainian Diabetes Project Clinic in Cherkasy was off to a good start.
This year's diabetes project was exciting in many ways. First we were successful in obtaining enough diabetic supplies to provide 25 more diabetics in Cherkasy with insulin, syringes, and blood testing strips. There was a total of 55 participants.
Secondly, we were able to see the results of last year's clinic, since the original 30 children participated again this year. Without a doubt the health of these children had improved remarkably. The impact on the whole family was overwhelming. Mothers expressed that they no longer had to worry or be with the child constantly. In fact they felt, now they could leave the child to go and work. The children were given a sense of hope. They smiled much more.
Thirdly, Dr. Richard Holve was part of the education team. He visited with each child and consulted with the parents. This was extremely valuable as it allowed more time for me to focus on group appointments or group lessons. Lastly, extra supplies that included dietetic foods, stuffed animals and toys were donated that added a delightful touch to clinic.
To emphasize the impact the Diabetes Project had over the past year, an excerpt from a letter from one of the parents follows:
"Our family is so thankful to you for your care about our child. He is 9 years old, 5 years with diabetes. Before the Diabetes Clinic in 1992 our family didn't know a normal, calm life. Our son was so seriously ill. Every week he had horrible fits of hypoglycemia, and every night we went to bed knowing he would have another fit. We had no means to control his sugar. The child lost consciousness, speech, eyesight, and had dreadful headaches. We didn't know what to do. once we read in the magazine that there are individual meters for analyzing blood sugar, but we could not get them anywhere. Till Andrea came we could only dream of analyzing the blood sugar every day. She brought us diabetic supplies and during this last year we had no problems with our son's diabetes. He has no fits now! And it is thanks to you and your generosity. Thank you ever so much!
Andrea says in your country diabetics lead a normal life and in our Ukraine they are defenseless invalids. Most people cannot control their blood sugar every day and take wrong doses of insulin. People are often in diabetic coma and high level of bood sugar destroys their body, people are slowly dying. We have no disposable syringes, but the most dreadful thing is - there is no insulin.
My whole family thanks you very much. I know how expensive are supplies for diabetics in America, in Ukraine we practically have none and we shall try to work hard to change the situation. Thank you ever so much for your kind help. How can I ever thank you enough?"
This year's classes were taught covering basic diabetes management topics including, what is diabetes, different types of insulin, meal planning, exercise, blood testing, and psychological impact of living with diabetes.
The supplies were distributed to 55 diabetics. More children from outlying villages participated. This is good, as the village children have little medical care and it is hard to get into the city regularly for any type of care for their diabetes. Each package contained enough insulin for one year, 100 syringes, 1460 blood testing strips, one lancing device with 100 lancets, educational material, various dietetic foods, stuffed animals and toys.
The clinic was held from July 6 - July 27, 1993. This seemed to be adequate time for teaching and distributing the supplies to those who were informed ahead of time. It presented a slight problem to those diabetics who did not hear about the clinic from the start. Last minute classes were held on an informal basis for individuals.
This year the medical staff participated more in the teaching sessions and learned the techniques for blood testing in order to be the contact person for diabetics who may have problems after the diabetes clinic was over.
An update documentary video is in the planning stages. It will be available to anyone interested. This video will be used to help raise funds and collect more diabetic supplies for next year.
Future plans for the diabetes clinic are being considered. The possibilities include staying a longer time in Cherkasy, maybe 3-4 months. An on-going clinic would be held and it would give diabetics living farther away and newcomers a more in-depth means of participating. The medical staff in Cherkasy is very interested in having this happen. They have offered living arrangements, an office, and all the support needed to make it happen. This will all depend on funding sources in the future. Future plans also include a medical team consisting of myself, a certified diabetes educator, a medical doctor, and a diabetic individual. I believe the Ukrainian diabetics will benefit from more contact with other diabetics.
I am planning to write for grants to obtain funds to help support this project. I believe this project is worthy of funding sponsorship. They continue to need our help in obtaining the necessary diabetic supplies to lead a normal life. Ideally, it would be best to get diabetic supply companies interest in getting their supplies manufactured in Ukraine. This is a major undertaking and one worth considering.
