A competition which was launched in May this year to motivate teenagers living with diabetes to share their inspirational stories, has been extended with the winners to be announced on World Diabetes Day in November this year. Sponsored by the Batswadi and Lilly Diabetes Partnership, 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.
“The response to this competition has been wonderful but many entrants asked us to extend the deadline. The youth today, irrespective of whether they live with diabetes or not, lead very busy lives, between school and sport commitments as well as school holidays and part time work, so we thought that we would extend the deadline by a few months. Announcing these inspiring winners on World Diabetes Day on 14 November is the perfect opportunity to give these role models the attention they deserve,” says Christopher Whitfield, Chief Executive Officer of Batswadi Pharmaceuticals. “We urge all teens living with diabetes to send us their inspirational stories by the end of October.”
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, diabetes can cause severe 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 people2.
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. Every day, children with diabetes may need to take insulin or oral medication. They also need to check their blood glucose levels several times during the day and must remember to make correct food choices3. Furthermore, during adolescence, it can be very 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:
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 31 October 2008. Prizes include a portable DVD/CD/ MP3 player as well as MP4 players for the runners up.
Leigh Hopewell at The Write Agency
011 467 5368 / 083 264 6563
