Introduction: Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC) is an integrated and comprehensive healthcare initiative aimed at improving the lives of children with diabetes in Bangladesh. Launched in 2010 by the Bangladesh Diabetic Association (BADAS) in collaboration with Novo Nordisk and the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), CDiC provides outpatient services for diabetic children and adolescents under 18 years of age. Starting with just 100 children, CDiC now supports 3,100 young diabetics across the country. The program was officially inaugurated by Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark on March 17 at BIRDEM2.

Vision: 

To improve access to comprehensive diabetes care for children with type 1 diabetes in Bangladesh.

Mission:

• Operate one central clinic and seven peripheral clinics serving over 3,000 children across Bangladesh.
• Employ a multidisciplinary approach involving physicians, educators, psychologists, nutritionists, and other healthcare professionals.
• Provide diabetes education to all patients and their families.
• Offer psychological screening and counseling by trained psychologists.
• Give dietary advice from professional nutritionists.
• Conduct essential investigations such as blood glucose, HbA1c, and provide glucometers for poor patients.
• Enroll new patients and follow up with existing ones through regular center visits.
• Organize awareness programs in schools and media.
• Host annual diabetes camps for children and parents.
• Provide training programs and educational scholarships for patients.
• Organize training and workshops for healthcare professionals with international and local experts.
• Goal:

To enhance access to diabetes care for children in Bangladesh and help them lead better lives.

Services & Objectives:

• -Offer comprehensive care, including medical consultations and diabetes education.
• -Train doctors, educators, and other healthcare professionals in managing diabetes in children.
• Develop training manuals for healthcare professionals.
• Create tailored education programs for children and their families.
• Conduct psychological assessments and provide dietary advice.
• Provide free insulin and syringes to poor patients.
• Offer HbA1c tests and other investigations.
• Supply glucometers and strips to all diabetic children.
• Organize annual diabetes camps.
• Establish a national registry for children with diabetes.
• Raise awareness about diabetes within the community.

Present Challenges on Sustainability:

• CDiC currently supports 3,100 children. Over 80% of these children come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and cannot afford insulin or other medical expenses.
• Every year, 300-400 new children enroll in the CDiC Clinic, with the majority from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ensuring free services for this growing number of children is a significant challenge.
• High dropout rates due to the inability of patients to afford travel to BIRDEM.
• Sustaining comprehensive services requires a team of trained staff, which poses a financial challenge.
• Maintaining services at peripheral centers in Chittagong and Faridpur is difficult.
• Covering office maintenance, laboratory costs, and other expenses adds to the challenge.

Join Us:

Support the Changing Diabetes in Children Programme to help us continue providing life-saving care and support to young diabetics in Bangladesh. Together, we can ensure that every child with diabetes receives the care they need to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.

For more information and to support our cause, please visit [Changing Diabetes in Children Programme, Bangladesh]