Diabetes nonprofits launch new multimedia site
to raise awareness of the health inequities for those living
with type 1 diabetes in underserved countries

SAN
MATEO, Calif., June 3, 2022
/PRNewswire/ — Today, Beyond Type 1 and Life for a Child
launch a new long-form, multimedia piece of content that highlights
Rwanda’s health inequities by
telling the inspiring story of two young sisters who live with type
1 diabetes in a suburb of Kigali.
The website, toclimbathousandhills.org, amplifies the need for
awareness, education and critical resources for people living with
type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Rwanda.

The site amplifies the need for awareness,
education and critical resources for those living with diabetes in
Rwanda.

Supported only by their single mother of six, Ineza, 18, and
Rebeka, 14, rely on critical organizations like the Rwanda Diabetes
Association (RDA) and Life for a Child to access life-sustaining
care. Life for a Child partners with diabetes centers, like the
RDA, in under-resourced countries to provide young people with type
1 diabetes with insulin and diabetes supplies, testing, educational
resources, and to support health professionals.

“It’s important for us to raise awareness of the incredible
impact that Life for a Child is having on T1D youth in
under-resourced countries like Rwanda,” said Mariana
Gomez, vice president of international markets at Beyond
Type 1. “Everybody deserves access to the life-sustaining care
required to manage diabetes. We’re proud to have partnered with
Life for a Child, and we hope that by telling this story and
leveraging our online community, we can inspire people to take
action.”

The management of type 1 diabetes, a chronic autoimmune
condition, is challenging and requires access to medical care,
supplies, support and education. The best health outcomes are aided
by consistent access to health care professionals trained in
diabetes and affordable access to insulin and blood sugar
monitoring devices, a privilege afforded to few across the globe.
For people like Ineza and Rebeka, managing their diabetes is
dependent on receiving basic supplies through local diabetes
organizations that survive on donor support.

“We aim to create a world where children with type 1 diabetes
can thrive, no matter their situation,” said Dr. Graham Ogle, general manager at Life for a
Child. All donations to Life for a Child are impactful, and just
$16 can provide a young person with
life-saving insulin and supplies for a month.

Type 1 diabetes makes the body unable to produce insulin, which
is the hormone that regulates blood sugar. Without insulin, our
bodies cannot use the sugar in our bloodstream as the energy needed
to survive. People with type 1 diabetes must carefully monitor
their blood sugar and dose insulin daily.

To learn more, view photos and videos, and read the full story
of those living with type 1 diabetes in Rwanda, visit toclimbathousandhills.org. The
site is also available in Spanish and French.

About Beyond Type 1
Beyond Type 1 is a nonprofit
organization changing what it means to live with diabetes. By
leveraging the power of social media and technology, Beyond Type 1
empowers people to both live well today and support a better
tomorrow. Through peer support programs, global campaigns and
digital platforms, Beyond Type 1 is uniting the global diabetes
community across both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, helping to change
what it means to live with chronic illness. Founders + Leadership
support operational expenses so that 100% of every dollar raised
directly supports the most promising global efforts and programs
working to educate, advocate and cure type 1 diabetes. 

About Life for a Child
Life for a Child’s vision
statement is: No child should die of diabetes. It’s a clear
aspiration but the challenges faced by those affected with type 1
diabetes are anything but simple. And this is especially true in
under-resourced countries where access to care is limited and the
physical, emotional, and financial burdens of the condition can be
crushing. Type 1 diabetes has no known cause and no known cure. But
what we do know is that managing it markedly improves lives. And
that by supporting us, you can help to make that difference. Life
for a Child is currently supporting 34,000 young people in 44
countries. We provide essential supplies, including insulin,
syringes, and blood glucose monitoring equipment. We produce
accessible education materials for children, families and
healthcare workers, and help to develop the skills of local medical
professionals. And we undertake research, which helps us – and
others – to advocate for positive change. In all areas, we
encourage sustainability by working with already-established
clinics and hospitals, as well as some governments. Our ultimate
aim is to become redundant. But until then, we’ll stop at nothing
to help.

Media Contact
Kim
Pace
kim@beyondtype1.org
817-308-5251

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SOURCE Beyond Type 1