World Diabetes Day is celebrated on the day of birth of Frederick Banting, who discovered insulin - the hormone used to manage diabetes. Diabetes is a disease which occurs when your blood sugar level - or the level of your blood glucose - is too high. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, is responsible for getting glucose out of the food you eat and transferring it to your cells as energy. Diabetes is caused by the organism's failure to manage blood sugar level. Untreated diabetes can cause serious complications and deterioration in the condition of kidneys, eyes, nerve system, or heart.
The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation takes up different initiatives in order to help people dealing with diabetes.
Nationwide Programme for Personal Insulin Pump Treatment of Pregnant Women with Diabetes
The idea of this programme is a simple one, but it helps women struggling with diabetes to have a healthy pregnancy. Since its launch in 2004, the Foundation has purchased 890 personal insulin pumps, which have been rented out to 2 892 women. The equipment is available for rent in 32 clinics across the country - it is free of charge for women with diabetes, who want to be certain that their glucose level is precisely managed during their pregnancy. We are delighted to say that thanks to the Programme, we welcomed 1117 healthy babies into this world!
Get Even with Diabetes Run
The 12th edition of the race will take place in Warsaw on the day of the Grand Finale charitable collection. This year the proceeds from the sale of race packs will go towards the purchase of personal insulin pumps for pregnant women with diabetes and finance the educational initiative of the Foundation. The 5K run will take the runners across Warsaw, and they will be easily recognizable by their orange T-shirt. The race is a great opportunity to raise diabetes awareness and promote a healthy lifestyle.
"Get Even with Diabetes"
Nutrition is essential when it comes to managing diabetes. Due to the fact that the organism does not regulate the levels of blood glucose (or, to put it simply, it does not break out sugar you consume into fuel for your cells), you have to keep a close watch of what you consume. We have teamed up with leading food manufacturers in the country to ensure that food packaging contains clear nutrition guidelines, which would help people with diabetes manage their sugar intake.
We also used to finance and run a programme providing personal insulin pumps for children with diabetes, but the programme was terminated in 2008 because now the state-funded medical programme now supplies children with personal insulin pumps. In the 7 years of activity of the programme, we have purchased 2978 personal insulin pumps.
Hundreds of participants wearing our original orange T-shirts? It's a signature feature of our "Get Even with Diabetes" Run! We will hold the 18th stationary edition of the run in the streets of Warsaw on 28 January. However, the virtual run starts today! You can still register online and add your time to the pool!
On 5 December, we organized the 68th Open Tender dedicated to the aim of the 30th Grand Finale of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, i.e. paediatric ophthalmology.
The registration of Collection Centres, i.e. hubs of volunteers organizing the Grand Finale events for their local community, is now over. Collection Centres will be actively participating in the 32nd Grand Finale fundraiser across Poland and in 101 locations around the world!
