This project consists in giving group of adolescents with type 1 (insulin-dependent), aged 14 to 17 years, from Switzerland and Quebec, activities to share together the management of their disease and discuss the challenges and solutions that can help them to become more autonomous in the daily management of their treatment.
After a first edition managed by the HUG in 2011, the Association Genevoise des Diabétiques (Geneva Association of Diabetics) organises another meeting that will bring together, for two weeks in the summer of 2016, 24 adolescents.
Switzerland and Canada sometimes have some differences in their approach of the treatment that have greatly enriched adolescents during 1st meeting. Participants also witnessed a real awareness on the feeling of not being alone in living with type 1 diabetes.
The exchange will take place from 8 to 24 July 2016 and will bring together 12 young participants from each country, boys and girls as well as the 4 nurses and 4 adults who will be supervising the project.
The teenagers from Quebec will spend the first week in Switzerland, met with their exchange partners and in turn will receive the Swiss during the second week under the same conditions. Thus, at the heart of families, they will have the opportunity to speak of diabetes, constraints and share tips with each other.
Swiss families are planning a program of visits and activities to accommodate Quebec participants, and make them live in various group experiences meant to strengthen the management of their diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes (also known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes) occurs when the pancreatic beta cells which normally produce insulin necessary to regulate blood sugar, are destroyed by the patient's immune system. Type 1 diabetes occurs most often in children and young adults but can affect people of any age. Type 1 diabetes is treated with daily insulin injections (with insulin pens or insulin pumps ). There is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes.
The funding of this project must be completed before June 30, 2016. Several initiatives are planned to raise funds (see graph below) and we need to CHF 6’000 to fund an activity of two days in the mountains including a stay during the night in a cabin. This will allow them to learn how to manage their disease in height with a physical effort.
Please talk about this project to your friends, families and acquaintances and don’t forget to visit our website and facebook page:
diabetexchange2016.jimdo.com or
www.facebook.com
To see the report done by the RTS on the old edition, from the show “Ensemble”, July 12, 2015:
www.rts.ch
We are counting on your financial support to transform this project into an unforgettable experience !