Diabetes charity aiding Australian families in need

THERE are between one and two children diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes every week in the Greater Geelong region, according to Barwon Health’s paediatrics ward.

The ongoing pandemic has only exacerbated the number of families living with the condition and now one of Australia’s leading Type 1 Diabetes charities is answering the call for help.

The Type 1 Foundation, which was created six years ago in Geelong and is not-for-profit, raises awareness through education in schools, medical practices and the wider community about Type 1 Diabetes and sends care packages all around the country to families newly diagnosed with the condition.

The foundation has said that since the pandemic began, requests for care packages have doubled and they are being inundated with requests for support.

The care packages contain practical items related to Type 1 diabetes such as various hypo treatments that kids can take to school or parks such as high-sugar snacks and supplements.

There are also numerous items parents can use for self-care such as candles, hoodies, and Type 1 Foundation merchandise, with the packages themselves valued at $180.

While Type 1 Foundation chief executive officer and founder Ange Liston-McCaughley admits she isn’t a medical professional, she and her team can point to numerous causes for the drastic increase in requests for aid by families.

“From our perspective we think there are lots of different environmental factors perhaps in terms of children not being able to go to school and building up their auto-immune systems that have led to increased demand for support and more diagnoses,” Ms Liston-McCaughley said.

The Type 1 Foundation has also begun a Sponsor a Care Package program where people can buy a Care Package for a child either in hospital or returning home from hospital as a result of being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

More than 1,100 care packages have been sent to newly diagnosed families to date.

“It’s been amazing to see so far. It can be very traumatic and to know there is someone out there who cares and has put in the effort to think about you and your family, means a lot,” Ms Liston-McCaughley said.

“Being diagnosed can be very isolating because there is so much to learn as well as the relentlessness of the condition, but obviously at a time like this, it can be even more isolating.”

In addition to their Sponsor a Care Package program, the Type 1 Foundation also conducts their yearly Type1 Beanie campaign.

This year they surpassed their goal of selling 4,000 beanies with all funds made going straight into spreading awareness for the condition.

To sponsor a package for a child recently diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes worth $150 or request a package for your own newly-diagnosed family free of charge, head to the shop section at type1foundation.com.au.