Background

Type 1 Diabetes is one of India’s many public health challenges, one that is intricately tied to the country’s unique socioeconomic distribution. According to a report by the T1D Index, approximately 9,50,000 citizens are diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes every year, and studies attest to how individuals can lose up to 45 years of healthy living years due to this. Targeted intervention in terms of improving accessibility to adequate healthcare and mental welfare not only mitigates any future risk but can also provide adequate psychological support to individuals affected by it. 

Furthermore, disease trend data points to an increased likelihood of a Type-1 Diabetes affliction in younger children. Unfortunately, based on statistics, an affected ten-year-old is likely to only experience twenty-nine healthy living years without ample care as opposed to the natural average of seventy-four. This translates to the need for on-ground interventions by both public and private organizations in terms of the distribution of both knowledge and resources, especially to underprivileged children and youth who are at risk. 

More specifically, efforts must be made in order to ensure the effective facilitation of HbA1c check-ups and educational camps alongside the distribution of insulin syringes, pen needles, glucometers, and glucose strips. Organizations such as the Yog Dhyan Foundation work on sustaining precisely these efforts by providing children with holistic care – from nutrition and medication to recreation and counseling. It is at this juncture that Brush of Hope aims to step in – through this project, our humble desire is to ensure that one step at a time, using positive psychology and meaningful interventions, Type 1 Diabetes patients from socioeconomically marginalized communities can hope for and find a healthier, safer, and better tomorrow.