Innovative Approaches in Treating Children with Diabetes in Odesa
In 2021, a new task force was established in Odesa to enhance medical support for children suffering from diabetes. This initiative enabled the coordination of efforts among city authorities, healthcare facilities, charitable organizations, and parents of diabetic children to improve their quality of life.
Last year, Odesa launched a program for purchasing insulin pumps for children with diabetes as part of the City Target Program "Health".
Over two years, 36 insulin pumps were purchased and installed through the city budget, and 58 children received necessary supplies for their use.
For children living with diabetes, having an insulin pump for automatic delivery means fewer injections, reduced stress, precise dosing, and timely insulin administration, significantly lowering the risk of complications and allowing for a more active lifestyle.
Additionally, diabetic children are offered a free service for installing continuous glucose monitoring systems. As of 2024, more than 200 monitoring systems have been installed, helping to prevent significant daily fluctuations in blood sugar levels and avoiding debilitating complications.
At the Children's Consultation and Diagnostic Center named after Academician B. Ya. Reznik, an educational project titled "School of Diabetes" has been launched. This program offers training for diabetic children and their parents on improving quality of life, proper nutrition, and engaging in sports, among other topics. Furthermore, in collaboration with the NGO "Psychological Space of CDC", workshops are held to provide psychological support for diabetic children and their families.
This year, with the support of the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Science of the Odesa City Council, a project was initiated to raise awareness about diabetes among general education school staff. So far, 50 teachers have received training on how to identify urgent situations and provide first aid to children with diabetes, and the educational project continues.
"Odesa is the only city in Ukraine that has provided such a number of insulin pumps to children with diabetes in outpatient settings in recent years. Overall, Odesa is leading in terms of funding medical assistance for children with diabetes from the city budget," emphasized the director of the Reznik Center, Valentyna Velichko.
