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Frequently asked questions

Why is type 1 diabetes such an important issue to address?

If people with type 1 diabetes don’t have access to insulin, they can enter a state of diabetic ketoacidosis (or DKA). As blood glucose can’t fuel the body without insulin, the liver instead starts processing fat into fuel (called ketones), causing the blood to become acidic. Similarly, if hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) remains untreated it can cause brain fuel deprivation, resulting in functional brain failure, seizures, unconsciousness, and even death. 

What are the costs of living with diabetes in less-resourced countries?
Insulin, and particularly blood glucose monitoring supplies, are prohibitively expensive and families are often faced with really difficult decisions. They have to also pay for transport to and from the clinic and may need to take time off work to attend appointments for themselves or with their child. The right foods can be expensive as well. We have even heard of awful situations where families are relieved when their child succumbs to the condition, as it means the rest of the family can now make ends meet. There are also social costs. For example, people injecting insulin may be mistaken for drug users or be socially stigmatised. This can affect their mental health, with many fearing for their future schooling, work and marriage prospects.
How do you know you are making an impact?
We track and measure the impact of work with local partners. For example, in Mali, we began supporting the NGO Santé Diabète with insulin and supplies for blood glucose testing in 2007, when only 14 young people in the whole country were known to be living with type 1 diabetes. This number has now grown to over 1100 and the government is also doing more to help.
How can I volunteer for Life for a Child?

Given the health-related nature of the Programme, it is generally only possible for us to send experienced health professionals on site visits, and, even then, only in certain contexts. These visits are often self-funded and the participant often speaks the language of the country they are visiting, in addition to English. This enables them to connect with the local staff and patients, review the effects of the programme, as well as deliver lectures and training if requested. Life for a Child has also established successful mentoring relationships between diabetes centers, and we are looking to establish more of these. If you would like to help, please contact us.

Is my donation tax-exempt?

USA: Life for a Child USA Inc. is a tax exempt charity under IRS rules as a 501(c)(3) organization, EIN 47-4901579. Your donation is deductible to the full extent allowable by U.S. law.

Australia: Diabetes Overseas Aid Fund T/A Life for a Child is a registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Eligible tax-deductible donations have Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status with the Australian Tax Office.

To make a donation please visit www.lifeforachild.org/donate/

Where does my money go?

Financial trails and health outcomes are carefully monitored by the program management team. Site visits of centers by international experts are conducted as needed.

What feedback do I receive?

As a donor you will receive a biannual newsletter, keeping you up-to-date with the progress of the young people Life for a Child supports around the world. You can unsubscribe from emails at any time if you wish.

Can I sponsor an individual child?

It is not possible for donors to directly support an individual child for the following reasons:

  • The time and resources required to gather feedback on individual children for individual donors would be extremely high, and the doctors and nurses who care for these young people in very under-resourced centers must focus on the urgent clinical tasks at hand. Furthermore, the children and youth do not all live in the same area but are widely scattered.
  • There are ethical issues with expressly linking sponsors and children with chronic disease in potentially vulnerable situations.
  • Life for a Child seeks to improve clinical care standards for all young people with diabetes, as well as encouraging best use of limited resources. The cost of support for one child varies substantially from country to country due to variability of government support and other factors including cost of supplies and distance to nearest health service.
Can my association or company help?

Life for a Child USA Inc. welcomes expressions of interest from diabetes associations, companies or other organisations. Enquiries can be directed to [email protected].

Many companies, organisations, and the diabetes community continue to assist Life for a Child in numerous ways, including direct donations, employee matched giving/gifts programs, and fundraising activities such as the “Spare a Rose” campaign run by the Online Diabetes Community.

How can I raise money for Life for a Child?
My center has excellent diabetes education materials for young people - would these be useful to Life for a Child?

Life for a Child is always interested in quality education materials for children, families and health professionals. Life for a Child has an online library of diabetes education materials offering resources in multiple languages. To suggest a resource please contact [email protected]

I have a question that hasn't been answered

Please contact us at [email protected].

I would like to run a Diabetes awareness campaign - can I use your materials?

Any material available on our website can be freely used (unless otherwise specified). Permission requests are only required if reproduction or translation is involved. If you are interested in reproducing or translating any Life for a Child materials please contact [email protected].

When using existing materials, please correctly acknowledge any material that organizations have generously shared with Life for a Child.

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