The Armenian American Medical Society Juvenile Diabetes Project has been operating in Armenia since 1993. For children with juvenile diabetes, life can be incredibly difficult and painful. Uncontrolled diabetes can have devastating consequences, including, kidney failure, strokes, blindness, and poor circulation that could lead to amputation. The lives of these young patients are often cut short because of these complications.
Initially, the aim of the project was to purchase insulin, the drug necessary to control this disease, and send it to Armenia, where it was in short supply. Today, the Armenian American Medical Society sponsors an annual camp that educates children with diabetes on the correct use of insulin, as well as proper nutrition and lifestyle as a means to optimize their health. The first camp took place the week of July 6, 2014, at Camp Aragats, in Armenia. The program is growing and in 2015, the camp hosted 35 children, who received this invaluable health education.
Through the support of the Armenian American Medical Society, the medical community and pharmaceutical companies, the incidences of these life-threatening complications from juvenile diabetes have dramatically declined. The Armenian American Medical Society is also working through a government-sponsored program to ensure that supplies and medication is provided to all diabetic children free of charge.
