A University of Worcester member of staff is taking action to help people with diabetes affected by the war in Ukraine get the vital medication they need.
Sophie Sheppard with her insulin pump
Sophie Sheppard, an Executive Assistant working in the University’s senior leadership department, has the condition herself and said she was moved to help as news of the conflict in Ukraine unfolded.
She has been using her Instagram page to try to highlight the issue to a wider audience and help get any surplus or donated supplies sent out.
“As a type 1 diabetic, reading about the invasion on Ukraine, my first thought fell to those that were having to evacuate and may not have access to the medication that keeps them alive,” she said. “I thought that I may be able to make a small difference.
“With disruption to deliveries and pharmacies, diabetics are being forced to start rationing insulin. Without insulin, a diabetic is days away from diabetic ketoacidosis, a build-up of acids in the blood which develops when blood glucose levels are consistently too high, which is a life-threatening medical emergency that is often fatal. As well as this, disruption to the food availability is putting thousands at risk of hypoglycaemia - low blood sugar.”
Sophie added that, in addition, without having means to charge phones or receivers; diabetics are unable to use their diabetic technology, such as insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors, and may not have alternative methods of checking blood sugar levels or giving insulin.
Sophie has an Instagram page called @thefaultypancreas and keen to do something to help, made contact with UK based company, Type One Style, after it said it was going to collect surplus supplies from the community and get them to networks of helpers in Ukraine and near the border. Type One Style is in direct contact with the Ukrainian Government, as well as volunteers with access to conflict areas from border regions who can get the medication and supplies to those in need. Sophie offered her support and began helping manage the campaign’s communications, along with a few other members of the online community who were keen to offer assistance. “Within hours we had received hundreds of offers of donations and support, but also requests from Ukrainian diabetics asking for help.”
Sophie also set up a Wish list through Amazon, a virtual shopping list of items needed, which in less than 72 hours had more than £12,000 worth of purchases going directly to Type One Style HQ for distribution. Although insulin is not available on the Amazon website, blood testing kits, power banks and hypo treatments are.
Anyone keen to help or support this initiative can find out more using the following links:
Type One Style campaign web page: https://www.typeonestyle.com/pages/support-diabetics-in-ukraine
Type One Style Instagram: www.instagram.com/typeonestyle
Sophie’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/thefaultypancreas