When Artem turned three, we noticed that he had become listless and sleepy. Then he began to drink a lot and go to the toilet often. We took the child to doctors and could not find the cause until we had a blood test for sugar. The glucose reading was 30 mmol/l instead of the normal 5!

Intensive care, drips, insulin… Our life became different. Every hour — a finger prick, a sugar measurement; every 2 hours — an insulin injection…

Two years have passed. To live a full life with diabetes, the level of sugar in the blood must be kept in balance at all times. Otherwise the vessels are quickly damaged and the patient loses their sight, or it comes to amputation of the legs.

In the first year of Artem's illness glucose levels were measured as often as possible, and all the child's fingers were pricked raw. The test strips promised by the state were not issued.

Now so few are issued that we buy most of the supply. We dream that you will help us with monitoring and with compensation by insulin. We do not want to let complications develop in our child.

For remote diagnostics there is the German LIBRE monitoring system and insulin pumps for delivering insulin.

By our own efforts we managed to buy a few sensors (each costs 100 c.u. and lasts 2 weeks). But even in that time his fingers healed and we had an emotional rest.

Three or four times a day the glucometer is checked against test strips. They cost up to 1750 UAH a month. Lancets, needles, insulin (we buy extra when there is not enough), a special diet... My husband works day and night for these purchases, and we cannot afford the systems we need. 

We cannot manage on our own, friends. To avoid a coma we are constantly on edge.

We shall be very grateful for support and for real help!

Sincerely, Nataliia.

For ways to help, see here.