Children's of Alabama Celebrates World Diabetes Day During Diabetes Awareness Month

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Staff in the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at Children’s of Alabama are bringing awareness to patients treated for diabetes at Children’s by wearing blue to celebrate World Diabetes Day.

The diabetes program at Children's of Alabama is one of the largest in the country, serving more than 2,600 children with diabetes. It provides comprehensive services for infants, children, adolescents and young adults with type I and II diabetes, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, steroid-induced diabetes, post-pancreatectomy diabetes and other rare forms of diabetes. Accredited by the American Diabetes Association Education Program, the program provides an environment conducive to learning and promotes collaboration with all members of the diabetes healthcare team, foremost the child and family.

Residents of Alabama can support the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at Children’s by purchasing the Hope for Kids with Diabetes specialty car tag. The tag is available for $50 at all state Department of Motor Vehicle locations. For each tag purchased, $41.50 will benefit pediatric diabetes patient care and education, physician training, and research at Children’s of Alabama. Since 2014, the Hope for Kids with Diabetes tag has raised more than $383,000 for the diabetes program.

“The Diabetes Education Program at Children’s encourages and promotes diabetes self-management, and our certified diabetes educators strive to provide the latest education and treatment options while also delivering an individualized approach to the needs of each patient and family,” said Mary Cochran, diabetes program coordinator at Children’s of Alabama. “We are so thankful to those who purchase the Hope for Kids with Diabetes car tag to support our program. Proceeds from the tag help equip our staff with training on new technologies, treatment options and diabetes research, which greatly benefit our patients.”

World Diabetes Day, recognized internationally on Nov. 14, was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the increasing health threat posed by diabetes. It is estimated that 40,000 people will be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes this year, and 1.25 million Americans are currently living with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). Per the NIH - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, “diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions in school-age youth in the United States, affecting about 193,000 youth under 20 years old.”

For more information on the Hope for Kids with Diabetes tag and the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes at Children’s, visit childrensal.org/tags.