Life for a Child is providing quality care for children and adolescents with diabetes from lower-income families in Mexico.
Sustainable progress has been made for diabetes care in Mexico, where three of the largest health systems provide human insulin free of charge to enrolled members of the population.
Insulin provision is an important step on the road to sustainability. However, access to insulin is only one piece of the puzzle for diabetes management. Self-monitoring of blood glucose is another crucial component, but none of the health systems in Mexico provide the necessary supplies.
Life for a Child helps to fill the gaps for families in need, by providing meters, strips and lancets to 554 young people across the country. This support enables them to monitor their blood glucose and manage their diabetes effectively.
In addition to supporting the immediate needs of young people with diabetes, it is part of Life for a Child’s mission to promote sustainability within the health systems that young people living with diabetes rely upon. To this end, we carry out research to give stakeholders a clearer view of the situation for young people with type 1 and advocate for improvements within the health system.
A study was undertaken by Life for a Child, in collaboration with the Mexican Diabetes Associations in the states of Nuevo Leon, Guanajuato, Guerrero, and Merida and the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre in Sydney. The study describes the types and results of the current levels of care provided to young Mexican people with diabetes from lower-income families.
The results of the study showed that acceptable levels of blood glucose control are achievable in Mexican children when supplies and education are provided
The graph below shows that the mean HbA1c results from Life for a Child supported centers in Mexico are not dissimilar to the most recent results from the T1D Exchange network of 50 leading US clinics. This is a great result and a tribute to the health professionals in the Mexican centers, the families, and the impact of the support Life for a Child provides, thanks to donors and partners.
Our hope is that the findings of this study can influence the Mexican health systems to begin providing these essential supplies and improve care for young people living with type 1.
You can help us continue to provide blood glucose monitoring supplies to young people by making a donation.
To find out more about the study click here.
This research was supported by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.