KiDS training in Indonesia

In August 2024, IDF Blue Circle Voice Anita Sari, hosted a Kids and Diabetes in Schools (KiDS) session for pupils aged 6 -7 at BKB PAUD Kemuning 06, a primary school located in Jakarta, Indonesia. The session was part of a collaboration with Diabetes Initiative Indonesia and TP – PKK (Tim Penggerak Pemberdayaan dan Kesejahteraan Keluarga / Family Empowerment and Welfare Movement Team).

The diabetes education session introduced interactive educational games featuring children with diabetes. Another part of their training included recognising hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia in a friend with diabetes and what actions to take. They also learned about the different devices and supplies people with diabetes use, such as glucose monitors, CGMs and strips.

Anita moderated the activity, and Dr Burhan Gunawan, from Diabetes Initiative Indonesia, joined her to present diabetes prevention and management for the children and their families.

Spain: KiDS Programme Award

KiDS was launched in Spain in 2021 by the Federación Española de Diabetes (FEDE). FEDE has 19 autonomous federations and represents over 150 patient advocacy groups. Working together with medical societies, KiDS was rolled out across the Spanish territory.  

In 2022, the KiDS Awards were introduced to motivate associations to implement the programme locally and hold training sessions for parents, teachers and students. This yearly contest invites regional patient groups to share results and work with schools to implement KiDS. After evaluating the projects, the organisation with the best-rated achievement receives a financial subsidy for projects to improve the lives of people with diabetes and their families.

To date, KiDS is active in 66 schools in Spain. More than 1,600 students and 1,100 teachers and parents have received training, contributing to better diabetes education.  

KiDS training in Aruba

In November 2022, the Aruba Diabetes Foundation organised KiDS educational sessions in three primary schools and seven after-school institutions in the island’s capital Oranjestand. Over 350 children participated in the interactive sessions that were supported by a general practitioner and trained assistants. During the sessions, the children learnt more about diabetes through presentations and a quiz, and received handouts of KiDS resources. A highlight was a presentation on the amount of sugar cubes contained in products commonly consumed by children in Aruba. Overall, both the children and teachers were enthusiastic and eager to learn more about diabetes, how it can be prevented and how they can support their peers who may be living with the condition.

KiDS arrives in Colombia 

The KiDS programme welcomed a first in Colombia with a hybrid pilot programme in Medellin from February to March 2022. KiDS partnered with a local non-profit, Yo también vivo con Diabetes, and the Sanofi Colombian Affiliate to present the programme at the Colegio La Enseñanza. More than 1,000 students, 400 parents and 100 teachers learned about the different types of diabetes, main signs and symptoms and how to combat diabetes-related stigma.  Participants also received tips on leading a healthy lifestyle. 

Liliana Orozco Villegas,  Yo también vivo con Diabetes Scientific Director, said, “The children, their parents and teachers had access to the KiDS Information Pack to help them understand their role in the prevention and management of diabetes”.

Preschool and primary school teachers in Hungary become ‘DiabMentors’

In Hungary, an education training programme – DiabMentor – was initiated in 2022 to prepare preschool and primary school teachers to welcome and support children with diabetes at school. The initiative was developed and implemented by the NGO Egy Csepp Figyelem Alapítvány (One Drop Attention Foundation) at the request of the National Education Authority. A legislative amendment adopted in 2021 obliges preschools and primary schools in Hungary to provide diabetes care (testing blood glucose, administering insulin, providing healthy food options) to children with type 1 diabetes during school hours.

The training consists of two modules informed by the KiDS educational resources, adapted by Egy Csepp Figyelem Alapítvány into Hungarian. A theoretical module provides an overview of diabetes and healthy nutrition, while a practical module teaches the safe and correct use of diabetes treatment tools. The training sessions also involve one-on-one consultations with a diabetologist, dietician and diabetes educator to address specific questions from participants. DiabMentor aims to provide teachers not only with the knowledge to support a child’s treatment, but also with the tools to communicate regularly with parents and healthcare professionals and improve awareness and understanding of diabetes among other teachers and school staff.

Around 400 teachers in hundreds of preschools and primary schools have benefitted from the DiabMentor training to date. Participants have appreciated the format and found the presentations informative and accessible. DiabMentor is ongoing and will be implemented in more preschools and primary schools in 2022-23.

KiDS programme educates 1600 children in India

The KiDS programme was first implemented in Goa, India in 2019 with the collaboration of the Sanofi affiliate in India and the Department of Health, Government of Goa. Dr Rupa Naik, Deputy Director, Directorate of Health Services, Goa state shares how the KiDS programme has been successfully delivered in Goa. The programme has taken place in 450 schools, trained 1600 teachers and heads of schools and educated 1600 children and adolescents about diabetes management and prevention.

KiDS event at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

On the 24th of February, 2018 a KiDS education session was organised by the Society of Diabetes Patient Friends in Jeddah-KSA in the King Abdulaziz University Hospital Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Society of Diabetes Patient Friends in Jeddah-KSA regularly conducts education sessions in schools in Jeddah to students and school staff to provide information and education on diabetes and diabetes management in schools.

The aim of this education session was to educate children and parents on diabetes and improve awareness.

A total of 53 children living with type 1 diabetes attended this session with their families (30 fathers and 50 mothers).

“Using the KiDS Information pack was very helpful in educating children, as the pack contains information about diabetes and how to manage diabetes during school. In addition, we educated the parents on diabetes and how to manage diabetes type 1. We corrected the myths on type 1 diabetes and informed them that they must send their diabetes care plan to the schools and keep in contact with the school care provider.”

Hanaa Siddig Elsayed (Health educator specialist & diabetes patients educator)

KiDS event at the Milagres College in Mangalore, India

On the 21st of August, 2017 Dr. Haseeb Aman, MBBS, MD Consultant Physician from India organised a KiDS event at the Milagres College in Mangalore, Karnataka State, India.

The purpose of this KiDS event was to inform teachers, parents and children on the management of diabetes. The KiDS information pack was distributed and demonstrations on how to use the diabetes kit and hypoglycaemia kit were shown.

Around 200 students from grade 5 to 8 (age 9 -13), along with 50 parents and 15 teachers were attending this information session.

Dr. Haseeb Aman on his experience:

“I was very much excited to do this event as it is one of the initiatives done by IDF on a global platform to educate teachers, kids and parents on diabetes at school. I found it very useful having tools provided by IDF for this program, as each one of them were very practical. I had good interaction with the kids, parents and teachers and helped them to understand what diabetes is, how to cope with diabetes and how to live a healthy lifestyle. I’m looking forward to continuing my work on spreading awareness on diabetes in all the schools in my district.”

KiDS implementation in Egypt

KiDS implementation in Pakistan

If you have organised a KiDS event in your country using the KiDS information pack and/or other KiDS resources, share your experiences with us! We would love to receive your testimonials, photos and or videos.