Students in 6th grade at the International College IC -Ain Aar in Beirut (Lebanon) organised a Bike-A-Thon in collaboration with DiaLeb on June 23 that welcomed over 200 participants. Their inspiration for the event came while studying Ancient Greek history and the Olympic games.  

At the launch, Dr. Jackie Maalouf, president of DiaLeb, and Nour Ibrahim, a young girl living with diabetes, were guest speakers. Their talks to students stressed the importance of raising funds for children with diabetes who are unable to buy insulin and treatment accessories. They also gave examples of healthy lifestyles for people living with diabetes and to prevent the condition.  

Proceeds from the Bike-A-Thon will go towards DiaLeb’s awareness raising activities to promote healthy lifestyles and spread awareness about diabetes so those living with the condition, their families and carers can better manage health outcomes.  

The initiative had a profound effect on the students, including Emile Obeid, “I'm proud of the fact that with the help of my legs and while biking and having fun, I was able to raise money for kids living with diabetes. Even when I felt like giving up, I had that relentless feeling of willpower to thrive and give the kids who live with diabetes hope for a better future.”  

Learn more about DiaLeb’s Bike-A-Thon in this vlog produced by students at the International College IC -Ain Aar.  

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is delighted to announce that it has partnered with the School Meals Coalition, an emerging initiative of 82 governments and NGO and corporate partners. Together they drive actions to urgently re-establish, improve and scale up food and education systems, support pandemic recovery and implement measures to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

The Coalition supports quality school meals globally, tailoring school meal systems to local conditions and promoting the sharing of international best practices.  

IDF looks forward to collaborating with the School Meals Coalition and its members to improve the lives of students with diabetes and those at risk of developing the condition.

Image copyright: School Meals Coalition

At the 3rd World NCD Congress in Toronto, Canada, IDF showcased the success of the “Kids and Diabetes in Schools (KiDS)” programme through an informative poster presentation.

Initiated in 2013, KiDS aims to bring diabetes education to schools to fight diabetes-related stigma and promote healthy lifestyles to tackle the preventable risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Starting early with diabetes education in schools and promoting healthy habits can be a stepping-stone toward a diabetes-free future and remove diabetes misconceptions and stigma that many children with the condition face.

Through KiDS, IDF trains advocates to encourage local and national policymakers to develop school policies and initiatives that foster the inclusion of students with diabetes and tackle the risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

As of 2022, the KiDS programme has reached more than 340,000 students and 19,800 teachers in 2,100 schools with resources downloaded over 20,000 times.

KiDS is an educational programme supported by an educational grant from Sanofi.