I asked my Youth Advisors, (volunteers who happen to be young adults living with diabetes), WHY this event is so important.
Here's what some of them had to say...
Why are we putting this event on?
- We are putting this event on to bring people of this age group together so they can connect with one another considering they share the same everyday struggle. It allows people at a young age to learn about the history of diabetes and appreciate how far diabetes research has come from the synthesis of artificial insulin to islet cell transplants, information that is otherwise not usually taught to young diabetics.
- There are no events for people this age, since this is a very small population it can be hard to connect and find applicable information for this age group. It is very much needed and has been a long time coming. Often people in this age group get "lost" in limbo between youth care and adult care and have unique issues which need to be addressed and dealt with.
Why is this event important?
- Because this group will be able to relate to each other as the same age group tends to go through similar issues at the same time. Someone who is 50 years old with diabetes will not go through the same issues and have the same concerns as someone who is 20 with diabetes. It will inspire others in the 18 to 29 population to make a difference in their community's, learn more about their condition, options and be an example of a healthy person with diabetes.
- This event is important because it will give young diabetics a chance to learn about treatments and research from first-hand inspirational speakers that have been affected or directly involved with type 1 diabetes. This event is as much motivational as it is informative, and considering the young age group we hope they will be inspired to get involved and contribute new fresh ideas that will help in the battle against diabetes in the near future.
Why did we choose this particular topic? Why History and Research?
- We chose this topic because research in diabetes is flourishing as of late and young people are not given the opportunity to learn about the current ongoing research. This topic will give them a chance to learn about new treatments, i.e. islet cell transplants, and learn about the experiences from people who have had this treatment. It is important for them to learn that there are other solutions, and that there are people struggling day and night to ease the burden of diabetes so they are not alone in the struggle.
- As for the history it shows how far we have come in the treatment if this disease. It gives us a chance to be grateful for all of the technology and advantages in treatments we have today as compared to 50 or even 15 years ago instead of cursing the daily struggles involved with diabetes! As for the research it gives some hope to us in that we are on the right track to finding a cure for this disease in our life time. Listening to someone speak who is living with the disease gives us motivation and a chance to relate.
Why is it important that people attend this event?
- Because it is the first ever of it kind and it will be amazing! Since it has been planned by young adults with diabetes it has an advantage because we know what we are most interested in learning about and most concerned about in this stage of our lives. It is a chance to relate to others on a subject that can only be fully understood if you experience it. When I attend other diabetes events about 99% of people are age 30 to 80 and their concerns and issues at their stage in life are very different from mine as a young adult establishing myself.
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