Youth Diabetes Action (YDA) is a charity organisation dedicated to the advocacy and aid of children with diabetes and their families through raising diabetes awareness, organising peer support groups, as well as providing financial and medical support.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that is caused by the body either not producing any insulin, or not enough insulin and the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar (glucose). There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented and is an autoimmune disease. Type 2 diabetes is caused by genetics, lifestyle and many unknown factors.
In Hong Kong, about 10% of the population (approximately 700,000 people) suffer from diabetes, and on average an additional seven children per month are diagnosed with diabetes. There is still no cure for this lifelong disease. A child with Type 1 diabetes has to manage the condition 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is no break. YDA was set up in 2001, with the vision that no child is held back because of diabetes. We want to reach every child, adolescent and family affected by diabetes to provide support and information. We believe that with good management and support a child with diabetes can go on to live a full and healthy life.