Fifteen-year-old, Leron Mitchell has been living with diabetes for the past 10 years. Fatigue, unquenchable thirst, and headaches were some of the symptoms a young Mitchell experienced.As Mitchell’s condition worsened, his mother, Lorna London, a Medex at the One Mile Health Centre,Cheap MLB Jerseys, took him to the doctor at Mackenzie Hospital, Region 10, for a check-up. There it was discovered that Mitchell was living with diabetes and needed lifelong treatment.Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases, in which a person has high blood sugar,Cheap China Jerseys Authentic, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.Mitchell is among the 54 children in Guyana who have diabetes. Regular visits to the health centre, constant intake of insulin and maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and a balanced diet, keeps Mitchell healthy.For the past three years Mitchell has been attending the Ministry of Health, Diabetic Youth Camp, where he is given the opportunity to interact and share experiences with other children living with diabetes.This year, Mitchell accompanied by his sister Sheron London, and 18 other diabetics, including toddlers and teenagers and their parents spent three days camping at Splashmins Camping Ground,Marshon Lattimore Jersey, Soesdyke Highway. The campers were from different Regions including Lima, Region Two; Albion, Region Six; and Wismar, Region 10.Diabetic Leron Mitchell, holding his glucometer and novo pen, stands with his sister Sheron London at the Ministry of Health Diabetic Camp.According to Tricia Azaire, Administrative Assistant, Ministry of Health Chronic Disease Department, the Diabetes Camp provides children with an excellent opportunity to learn self-confidence, independence from parents or caregivers,Wholesale Hockey Jerseys, interact with other diabetic children, and enjoy themselves. In addition, it is an excellent opportunity for parents to take a break from the regimented lifestyle associated with diabetes.She posited that the objectives of the camp are to inform children about diabetes,Wholesale Jerseys China, and to help them find inner strength each day to do what it takes to live a healthy lifestyle and to live with a chronic disease at such a tender age.Azaire emphasized that the programme of activities that were planned for the camp covers areas in nutrition, focusing on healthy eating, reading food labels, use of the glucometre and testing supplies (that were given to them); education session on foot care; refresher session on Type 1 Diabetes; and physical activity.The ‘Sponsor a Child Initiative’ has received support by some Private Sector companies including Cara Lodge, Roraima Airways, New GPC Inc, Bounty Farm Limited, Republic Bank Guyana and Trans Guyana Airways Limited.She stated that the ‘Sponsor a Child Initiative’ is a partnership between the Ministry and the Private Sector, which seeks to provide assistance to children living with diabetes in the form of supplies for the management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. These supplies are usually in the form of glucometers, glucose test strips, lancets, alcohol prep pads and even insulin.The International Diabetes Federation also supports the programme and donated 18,000 vials of insulin and over US$10,000 for testing supplies for the children living with Type 1 Diabetes.According to Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, the glucometer and novo pen given to the children would greatly assist them. The presence of these technologies in their homes would help to reduce the impact of the disease he said.He noted that at the upcoming United Nations High Level Meeting to discuss Non-Communicable Diseases, focus will be placed on the Millennium Development Goals 8E, which calls for more access and affordability to technology and medication for patients.Dr. Ramsammy announced that Guyana will be given a special award for its efforts made in the control and management on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases, by the Pan-American Health Organization next month.Three years ago, amputations of limbs in Guyana as a result of diabetes occurred in about 500 persons per year. In the past year, that number has reduced significantly and about 60 amputations of limbs were executed, he stated.The Minister added that in Guyana, there are 30,000 to 40,000 people living with diabetes, and more than half of them are hypertensive.With the early detection of both diseases, the national medication bill has increased over the years, with medication for diabetes and hypertension costing $400M. Previously, this amount was around $75M. Dr Ramsammy asserted th