Children with Diabetes

Children with Diabetes Day in Hungary - organised by the Hungarian Pediatric Diabetes Organization.

On 11 January, 1922, the world’s first insulin injection was given to the almost dying 14 year old Canadian boy, Leonard Thompson. To commemorate this historical day, the Hungarian Pediatric Diabetes Section has been observing 'Children with Diabetes Day' every year since 2006.

This national event is aimed at:

• Raising awareness of the life of children with diabetes.
• reducing public misconceptions and ignorance on childhood diabetes, which is still prevalent even among nursery and school personnel.
• establishing a forum for regional pediatric diabetes centres to demonstrate their patient education activities.
• Contributing to the minimization of inequalities of care within the country, one of the objectives of the Hungarian Pediatric Diabetes Organization.

This year’s event took place in the city of Győr, and was organized by Dr Tamás Niederland (secretary of the Section) and his team. Children with diabetes and their families from all over the country (0ver 150 attended), pediatric diabetologists, nurses, dieticians, nurse educators, representatives of civil society and health care industry were invited. In their opening speeches, officers of the Pediatric Diabetes Section (Dr László Blatniczky, President) and the Hungarian Diabetes Association (Dr Tibor Hídvégi, Secretary) described the children as little heroes and heroines, and praised the efforts of their parents.

The guest of honour was Domonkos Ferjancsik, an Olympic bronze medalist in fencing, who was diagnosed with diabetes as a child.

Short lectures were delivered by diabetologists on the history of diabetes management, diabetes in literature and on educational camps. Several rooms adjacent to the auditorium served as platforms for games and sporting activities.

The highlights of the day were the performances given by the children, consisting of poetry, song, music and dance recitals.

The organizers of the Day hope that this initiative will spread to other countries, and that perhaps at some time in the future 'Children with Diabetes' will be observed in the pediatric diabetes community worldwide.