A safe tomorrow for Maksym

160 finger pricks per month – this is the life of thirteen-year-old Maksym from Odessa. At the age of 7, he was diagnosed with diabetes. A carefree childhood immediately turned into constant monitoring of glucose levels, daily insulin injections and fear of nighttime hypoglycemia.

Symptoms of diabetes in Maks appeared suddenly. He began to eat and drink a lot, complained of pain in his legs. When the smell of acetone appeared from his mouth, his blood glucose level was checked. It was so much higher than normal that the child was urgently hospitalized. Maksym was prescribed insulin injections, which had to be done up to eight times a day.

There are two children in the family, and both are disabled. Fifteen-year-old Artem has a heart defect, he underwent two operations. And Maksym's life is 8-10 finger pricks daily, up to 160 per month. When the family can buy sensors, the number of pricks decreases significantly. 14 days (this is the duration of one sensor operation) Maksym and his parents can sleep peacefully, without fear of sudden nighttime hypoglycemia.

The sensor measures glucose levels every 5 minutes and transmits data to the application on the smartphone, which allows you to control the disease even from a distance. Therefore, sensors improve the quality of life, return a state of confidence and freedom.

2 years ago, Maksym began to use a pump that automatically injects insulin. Sensors and a pump help to live without the constant threat of "sugar surges", to avoid complications from blood vessels, heart, kidneys and vision. They literally prolong life.

Unfortunately, the boy has already begun to develop angiopathy – damage to the blood vessels of the legs due to the progression of diabetes. To stop the destructive effects of the disease, the strictest control of glucose levels is needed, which only sensors and a pump can provide.

Despite the disease, Maksym enjoys life, is fond of basketball, wants to try himself in boxing. He is already an eighth-grader, algebra and geometry are especially easy for him.

Maksym's father works as a loader at the port, and his mother, a cook by profession, cannot go to work, she takes care of the children. The family's resources have long been exhausted, they really need our help. 

We are launching a fundraiser to purchase 24 Freestyle Libre 2 sensors for Maxim, which will last him a year. Let's give Maks and his family a life without fear and pain!