Under 25 with Type 1 diabetes? Iloilo province offers free help

ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) is strengthening care for children and young people living with Type 1 diabetes, with 64 patients from 26 municipalities enrolled in the province’s Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC) program.

The update came as the province’s Diabetes Mellitus Technical Working Group held its third meeting Sept. 16 to discuss programs and measures addressing diabetes among children and young people.

IPHO said the CDiC program is implemented in partnership with Humanity & Inclusion and covers young Ilonggos up to 25 years old living with Type 1 diabetes.

The program provides beneficiaries with insulin, medicines, and medical equipment needed to manage diabetes.

Educational materials are also distributed, while health stakeholders undergo learning sessions to strengthen their capacity to manage cases.

Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk launched CDiC in 2009 as a public-private partnership for children and youth with Type 1 diabetes in low- and middle-income countries. dtu

The Philippines joined the program in March 2024 with a launch in Valenzuela City, and Humanity & Inclusion Philippines approached the Iloilo provincial government the following month to bring the project to the province. novonordiskiloilo

Type 1 diabetes, formerly called juvenile diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, requiring patients to take insulin to regulate blood glucose levels.

IPHO said it continues case-finding through primary care facilities, hospitals, and physicians to identify children and young people with Type 1 diabetes and link them to appropriate care.

The province also held a diabetes camp in May for children living with Type 1 diabetes.

The activity included sessions on diabetes management, proper insulin administration, and recognizing and responding to hypoglycemia.

It also gave participants opportunities to interact with peers living with the same condition.

Child-friendly information, education, and communication materials were also developed with children and their parents to make diabetes information easier to understand and apply in everyday situations.

During the recent meeting, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Rodney Labis sought the support of working group members in strengthening the province’s diabetes prevention and management efforts.

The CDiC program forms part of the province’s broader efforts to improve access to diabetes services through the local health system, particularly for young patients who require continuing treatment and monitoring.

IPHO encouraged physicians and caregivers of children and young people with Type 1 diabetes to seek assistance and enrollment in the program through the provincial health office or their nearest rural health unit or health center.