IDF Young Leader in Diabetes alumni (Pakistan), living with type 1 diabetes

Life with type 1 diabetes can be challenging, particularly when your teachers and other school staff do not understand the condition. I could have been diagnosed earlier if my teachers and classmates had been aware of the symptoms of diabetes. They would see me go frequently to the bathroom during every period and drink lots of water, but no one knew what could be the cause. I felt ashamed and would not speak about it. As a result, I ended up in a diabetic coma.

After my diagnosis, my mother and doctor provided detailed guidance on my condition to my school and I no longer faced issues. When I experienced episodes of low or high blood glucose my teachers understood and helped me manage them.

After becoming an IDF Young Leader in Diabetes, I established a community organisation called Meethi Zindagi (Sweet Life). Part of its work involves raising awareness of diabetes in schools, inspired by my own experience. We help children and teachers visualize the symptoms so that they can identify them and support a child with diabetes in the school environment.

Programmes like KiDS can change the lives of children with diabetes. It can spare children from the sense of shame associated with a delayed diagnosis; it provides parents with the information they need to provide to schools; and above all, it can help create an environment where children with diabetes do not feel alone and misunderstood.

Available in Urdu, the KiDS information pack is an important part of the school awareness programmes organized by Meethi Zindagi, allowing us to make them more consistent and effective.