Welcome to another Thriveabetes interview. Today I had a chance to catch up with Kate (Katarzyna) Gajewska. Kate was diagnosed with diabetes when she was 16 months old over 30 years ago. Between 2015 and 2020, Kate undertook her PhD looking at the access to insulin pump therapy in Ireland. She submitted her PhD thesis a couple of weeks ago and in the last couple of months has had some of her findings published.
In September 2016, 85 children with type 1 diabetes in Ireland took part in the National Diabetes Cup Soccer Tournament. The tournament was equally successful in 2015. However, in 2017, the National Diabetes Cup lost it’s sponsor and had to cancel. Diabetes Ireland have committed to providing it again in 2018, despite having a shortfall in their sponsorship of €10,000 because the benefit of the Diabetes Cup to children with diabetes is so great.
Yes, it's a soccer tournament for children with type 1 diabetes aged between 4 and 15 years. But in between games, the children chat with new friends about everything from soccer to how they treat their hypos (low glucose levels) to how their friends in school react to their diabetes. For the children, it's about being with others who know what living with diabetes is like.
And proud Mammies and Daddies, who are watching from the sidelines, are also mingling with other parents who know exactly what it’s like to raise a child with diabetes.
It’s a fantastic opportunity for type 1 families to come together and meet other families who live with type 1 diabetes.
Here’s a video of the event in 2015
And some of the photos of the event in 2016
https://www.diabetes.ie/national-diabetes-cup-2016/
If you know of a business who can donate sponsorship please contact Jennifer Brennan, Fundraising Manager Diabetes Ireland to help them reach their €20,000 goal!
Email jennifer.brennan@diabetes.ie or Telephone 01-8426276.
When: Saturday, August 25th (time tbc) Where: National Sports Campus, Abbotstown
If you would like to register your child for the Diabetes Cup click here
