Sunt Diabetes

On November 29, 2008 dinner was held at the end of the year AAGD of Mantua, at the elegant Villa Cavriani. This was an opportunity to revisit the 2008 Association, with many activities: camps for young people, the scientific conference, glucose screening in the squares, the World Diabetes Day in Mantua with his walk and monuments illuminated in blue in the city, and much more ... A long series of successes! But it was time also to look to the future, introducing several new features.

The acronym AAGD Mantua was originally an abbreviation of Association for Aid to Young Diabetics. However in diabetes in recent years tends to abandon the term "diabetic", because it appears as a negative label in place of the person himself, preferring to use the definition of "person with diabetes", surely it is just a formal difference , but it is significant in view of putting the whole person in the spotlight, unlike past approaches where they tended to treat only the clinical appearance ("to cure" in English). Thus, by adhering to this new vision, 'AAGD of Mantua has decided to change its name to Association for Aid to Youth with Diabetes. A small step towards a new way of caring (in English "to care") of people with diabetes! Furthermore, more often next to the logo of the association will be the symbol of diabetes , recognized around the world: the blue circle.

Here's the new logo of the Association for Helping Young People with Diabetes in Mantua

Expectations for 2009 are several interesting initiatives: some public activities to attract people's attention, even through artistic or recreational events, making more informed public opinion and institutions on the topic of diabetes. It should also produce an informational DVD for distribution in schools, which of course covers a fundamental role in children's lives. November 14 is likely to continue the celebration of World Diabetes Day in 2009 according to the formula already proven in recent years. As always there will be activities for kids, with days full of sport and entertainment, meetings between peers, lunches and dinners dedicated to themselves. In particular there will be summer camps: one for the little ones in June, but also for young adults. The latter will leave for a week in Spain in August, under the banner of physical activity, the management of diabetes, compared with other Spanish students, entertainment and even an introductory knowledge of a new language. A very interesting program! Participants will be almost 20.

Dinner in November, given the large attendance of members, was also the occasion to renew the Governing Council, which will serve for the biennium 2009-2011. Patrizia Boselli has accepted the difficult task of continuing in the presidency of the association, carrying on (as always in recent years) its important and valuable work: so many good wishes for his new term, hoping that it can meet the collaboration of all members! Patrizia will be accompanied by Lalla Priest as vice president. For the counselors we have some news: especially noteworthy is the arrival of two young men, Julius and I Gibertoni, Simone Donadello. For the first time young people with diabetes officially become part of the direction of the association: beyond their capacity and availability of time, I think this is an important signal to give to all the other guys, that is, to feel more involved and active in the management of the association, in order to prepare for generational change that will be needed to keep alive the association in the future.

So, given the favorable conditions, we can do is make lots of wishes to the AAGD of Mantua in 2009, and to all its members! For more information you can visit the website of www.aagdmantova.it .

Simone