MUMBAI: On World Diabetes Day, Hinduja Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the 110-year-old Hinduja Group, announces that it has transformed the lives of 1,000+ underprivileged children across Mumbai, Pune, and Chennai through its Type 1 Diabetes Initiative (T1DI), a unique model that provides comprehensive medical, nutritional, and emotional care to the children free of cost.

Launched in April 2019, the Foundation set out to help underprivileged children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) lead healthy, fulfilling lives. In just six years, the initiative has significantly reduced hospitalisations and improved average HbA1c levels from 10.4% to 7.8%, among enrolled children. It has also strengthened families’ financial well-being and encouraged students to excel in state-level sports like archery and chess.

India currently ranks highest globally in the number of children living with T1D, with cases rising at nearly 6.7% annually, underscoring the urgent need for equitable, lifelong diabetes care.

“Type 1 Diabetes is not just a medical condition, it’s a lifelong journey of courage, discipline, and hope,” said Raman Kalyanakrishnan, CEO, Hinduja Foundation. “Through T1DI, we stand with every child and their family, helping them manage, adapt, and thrive through compassionate, community-based care.”

The Type 1 Diabetes India (T1DI) initiative, launched with P.D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation & Dr. Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, and KEM Hospital, Pune, extends comprehensive support to children from low-income families through free insulin, diagnostics, counselling, and peer-learning platforms that integrate access, awareness, and empathy-driven care.

What began as a medical intervention soon evolved into a story of transformation, with over 40 children further empowered through insulin pumps, including 20 advanced automated insulin delivery systems, giving them the freedom to live fuller, healthier lives. In Pune, the Foundation and KEM Hospital have created ClubOne, a vibrant peer-support platform that nurtures resilience, confidence, and hope among young patients.

The programme’s measurable impact includes:

• Significant reduction in hospitalisations among enrolled children
• Improvement in average HbA1c levels from 10.4% at the first visit to 7.8% by the 14^th visit among enrolled children
• Increased school attendance and renewed participation in extracurricular activities
• Enhanced nutrition and growth outcomes, supported by regular dietary monitoring

The Foundation further contributes to global diabetes research through its collaboration with Harvard University’s Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology (CDIC), with findings presented at international forums in Bangkok and Vienna in 2025.

Building on this impact, the Foundation is exploring partnerships to make diabetes management more affordable, accessible, and digitally enabled across the country.

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A. Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D), which is the common type of diabetes in adults, occurs when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces (insulin resistance). Obesity, inactivity, unhealthy lifestyle, stress, and family history are the major risk factors for T2D. ‘No Symptom’ is the commonest symptom of T2D, as symptoms like excessive hunger, thirst, and urination, and weight loss may not be evident in the early stages. Therefore, routine checkup of blood sugar levels aids early diagnosis and timely treatment. 5 cornerstones of T2D management are – Diet, Exercise, Regular Monitoring, Medicines, and Patient Education. Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to damage to vital organs like the heart, kidneys, eyes, brain, nerves, and feet.

Diabetes Unit, KEM Hospital, Pune, provides comprehensive care featuring specialized services such as the Diabetes Renal OPD, Physiotherapy Clinic, Foot Clinic, Gestational Diabetes (GDM) Clinic, and Nutrition Clinic. This integrated model is driven by a dedicated team of skilled doctors, experienced educators, certified dietitians, and expert lab technicians, all specializing in Type 2 Diabetes management. With over 10,000 registered patients, the unit emphasizes personalized care and continuous patient education through various awareness and support initiatives. A special focus is given on early diagnosis and prevention of complications.

B. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the islets of the pancreas. As a result, the body produces very little or no insulin. As per IDF Atlas, India ranks 2nd in the list of top ten countries for the number of new cases of T1D (children and adolescents <15 years), (11,300 per year).

T1D occurs most commonly in children and adolescents. People with T1D need multiple daily insulin injections to maintain a glucose level in the proper range and would not be able to survive without insulin treatment. With daily insulin treatment, regular blood glucose monitoring, a healthy diet, and lifestyle, these patients can live a healthy life and delay or prevent complications of diabetes. Diabetes Unit KEMHRC, Pune, has more than 1700 registered T1D patients.

The cost of treatment of T1D is a major issue, and for poor families, it is a very big drain on the family income. To address the need for treatment support as well as research, the Type 1 Diabetes in India (T1DI) project was initiated in the Diabetes Unit KEMHRC, Pune, with support from the Hinduja Foundation. Other NGOs like Mukul Madhav Foundation, Nityaasha Foundation and many individual donors support the treatment of underprivileged T1D patients.

Patient engagement

The Diabetes Unit at KEM Hospital, Pune, has established ClubOne KEM, a unique patient-support initiative dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of individuals living with T1D. This pioneering program fosters active engagement between senior and newly diagnosed patients, along with their parents and caregivers, creating a supportive and interactive learning environment.

The initiative aims to bridge the gap between routine medical visits by offering continuous guidance, encouragement, and peer-to-peer support. Through its activities, ClubOne KEM promotes confidence, self-management skills, and emotional well-being among young patients.

To strengthen community engagement, ClubOne KEM runs an active WhatsApp group with more than 1000 members, an informative YouTube channel featuring over 67 educational videos and more than 95,000 views, and an interactive Facebook page. These digital platforms provide ongoing education, real-life experiences, and expert advice.

The Madhuraksha mobile application was developed specially for T1D patients and their families. It is available for free on Android and iOS. This innovative app serves as a “pocket diabbuddy” for the patients. With over 2,000 downloads and nearly 800 active users, it provides vital information on insulin administration, glucose monitoring, travel tips, sick day care, FAQs, and educational articles in Marathi, Hindi, and English. The App also features calculators for insulin-dose adjustment and carbohydrate-counting, facilitating better blood glucose control.

Diabag: ClubOne has also designed a special compact bag/ pouch (Diabag) which T1D kids can carry to school or during travel. It provides safe storage for all T1D essentials (insulin in the insulated cold compartment), glucometer, hypoglycemia management supplies, emergency contacts, etc., in one place. Diabag ensures prompt assistance in case of emergency, such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), when children are in school / away from home.

ClubOne KEM also conducts many workshops, competitions, and outdoor camps for T1D patients for patient engagement and empowerment. 

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