ADIUVARE – Associazione Diabetici Uniti Varese is a recognised voluntary association (APS), registered in the RUNTS (Single Register of the Third Sector) and in the corporate register of voluntary associations of the ASST dei Sette Laghi Local Health Authority.
Adiuvare is also an archaic Latin transitive verb meaning ‘to help’.
The association was founded by a group of parents of children with type 1 diabetes and adults with type 1 diabetes who decided to dedicate some of their time and energy to addressing the issues associated with this condition, which is treatable but not curable; a lifelong condition.
Adiuvare currently supports around 140 families receiving treatment at the Paediatric Ward – Diabetes Clinic of the F. Del Ponte Hospital in Varese, with which it collaborates and serves as the designated association.
HISTORY AND AIMS
The association was founded in 2011, on the initiative of Prof. Alessandro Salvatoni and a group of adults and parents of children with type 1 diabetes, with the aim of supporting young patients and transforming the pain caused by the diagnosis of a chronic, incurable disease in their child.
The main objectives are:
- Raising public awareness about the early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes and the prevention of diabetic ketoacidosis, an acute complication of diabetes that can lead to coma and death. The main warning signs of type 1 diabetes are: polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (unquenchable thirst), chronic fatigue and weight loss.
- Support for families through self-help group meetings and activities organised by the ‘family mentors’ group, comprising parents and teenagers with type 1 diabetes who have been properly trained to assist those newly diagnosed, particularly during the initial period.
Regular health information and education events across the region, to raise awareness of diabetes and promote physical activity and healthy eating, as part of a healthy lifestyle. - Organisation of conferences and events, including those of a scientific nature.
- Collaboration with institutions.
- Maintaining contact with other regional and national associations (Diabete Italia, CDGLombardia and AGDItalia) to undertake joint initiatives.
OUR PROJECTS
Over the years, projects fundamental to the well-being of young patients and their families have been launched and are currently receiving financial support:
- “Nutri-Mente”, in which two psychologist-psychotherapists complete the care team at the paediatric ward – diabetes clinic of the F. Del Ponte Hospital in Varese.
- Two annual educational-therapeutic camps (school camps), divided by age group, where children and teenagers learn to ‘manage’ their condition independently, without their parents, with the involvement of specialists and volunteers, sharing experiences, fears and difficulties, to achieve full autonomy.
- “The collective healing process”: Self-Help Group (AMA) meetings for parents of children and young people with type 1 diabetes.
- “Diabetes at School”, training courses for school staff on recognising the warning signs of the onset of the condition and to ensure that pupils with type 1 diabetes can attend schools of all levels, starting from nursery school, in complete safety