Program areas at Fundacion Pediatrica de Diabetes
1,224 children with diabetes received nutritional consults by certified nutritionists, 156 patients received individualized diabetes education and 603 received psychological therapy by doctors in psychologists specialized. in diabetes management. Services are offered free of charge in our main office in San Juan, and in two satellite offices located in the south (city of Ponce, PR) and west region (city of Aguadilla, PR). Each office has its coordinator of patient services that organizes the schedule for the nutritional and psychological consults. Since children received services accompanied by their parents, the impact is approximately 5,949 people impacted by these services. The Organization provides services without discrimination due to location, race, economic status and educational attainment of the families. During the pandemic, services were offered both virtually and on site. Virtual diabetes educational workshops were offered using social media to educate families of children with diabetes.
The program educates and trains teachers in how to effectively manage diabetes, in order to ensure a safe environment at school for our patients with type 1 Diabetes (T1D), It is offered free of charge and responds to the needs and rights (as per federal and state legislation, Section 504 and PR-Law 199, respectively) of children and adolescents with Juvenile Diabetes to have schools and day care center with educated personnel on the adequate management of the condition. A total of 3,057 school staffs were impacted from 145 public and private schools around the island, 109 T1D students were benefited. The program also include education to T1D student's classmates from 21 schools impacting 385 students and 21 T1D patients.
The first help our organization offers to our patients starts at the hospital where the child is diagnosed with diabetes. The Welcome Diabetes kit is sent directly to hospitals for newly diagnosed children type 1 (15 partnerships with hospital throughout the island that refer newly diagnosed patients to the Foundation. The kit includes those medical supplies the pediatric patient needs in order to be discharged from the hospital. Medical supplies include syringes, insulin case, insulin vial protectors, glucometer, alcohol, swabs, text strips and diabetes educational materials. The kits are either sent by messengers or delivered personally by our staff. 235 kits were delivered free of charge during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2022. This program allows the Foundation to generate statistics of incidence of type 1 diabetes in patients with 0 to 21 years old in Puerto Rico. These statistics are the only one existing at present time in Puerto Rico. The program is endorsed by the Puerto Rico Hospital Association of Puerto Rico and by the Department of Health of Puerto Rico.