My YLD Training in Bangkok: An Eye-Opening Experience with Other Young Advocates

I am Enoch, and I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes just over a year ago. I was nominated by YDA to join a programme run by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) to become a Young Leader in Diabetes (YLD). This programme aims to bring together young Type 1 diabetes advocates and support them with their advocacy projects. Here are some of my thoughts and experiences from our training session held in Bangkok.

Around 60 young leaders from across the globe gathered to prepare for their advocacy initiatives and connect with other young advocates.

The first and most important lesson about advocacy is about generating policy change to improve situations that are fundamentally unfair. The logic is simple: every step of your advocacy journey is equally important, but the only way to ensure that every target audience benefits is to influence policy changes. Take continuous glucose monitor (CGM) availability, for example. Our YLD mentor from New Zealand shared that her project focused on raising awareness of CGMs. “Although it’s easy to demonstrate the importance of CGMs for people with diabetes,” she explained, “until policy changes occur, no one truly benefits from this technology.” She added, “With nine years of continuous communication with the New Zealand government and countless activities to raise awareness, as of 1st October 2024, CGMs, along with insulin pumps and other consumables, are fully funded by our universal healthcare provider.” Only then did our advocacy project truly help all people with Type 1. The moral of the story? We fight for policy change, regardless of how long it takes.

We received updated knowledge about diabetes and how to plan a project using the SMART method. From logistics to promotional skills, I am incredibly grateful for all this information. Moreover, we were introduced to various global initiatives during the training. We met representatives from Breakthrough T1D1 and #dedoc° 2 who provide funding and scholarships to diabetes advocates worldwide. “YOURAH” 3, which focuses on the younger generation in Europe, recently participated in the IDF congress. Parliamentarians aim to connect you with political figures in your country to further diabetes advocacy. This reminds us that the advocacy journey for diabetes is never undertaken alone; there are always friends and family along the way.

One unforgettable memory from the training was a discussion about diabetes care in our countries. Participants from Singapore and Thailand shared challenges in securing financial help for CGMs, while a participant from Portugal mentioned, “Availability of technology is a major issue; we have to wait two years for pumps.” When I learned that the Portuguese National Health System provides full subsidies for people with Type 1, I realised how much better their healthcare system is compared to ours. However, this envy quickly turned to appreciation when participants from Gambia explained that their country can only provide mixed insulin to some people with Type 1. Additionally, a participant from North Macedonia revealed that corruption leads to stolen insulin vials being replaced with water. In Hong Kong, all insulins are government-funded; therefore shortages are not a concern.

  1. Breakthrough T1D (formerly known as JDRF) is a non-profit organisation supporting people with Type 1 and funding research to find the cure. 
  2. #dedoc° is an international online community focused on peer support, advocacy, and raising awareness globally.
  3. YOURAH network is a youth-led diabetes community composed of alumni from IDF Youth Leadership Camp.