Having type 1 diabetes but living a life without limitations. The campaign shines the spotlight on this chronic condition ‘Blue Balloon‘, sponsored by Agd Italia (Youth Diabetes Associations), Aniad (Italian National Association of Diabetic Athletes), Diabete Forum, Fand (Italian Diabetic Association) and Fdg (National Federation of Youth Diabetes) and promoted by Medtronic. An emotional video, the involvement of important influencers and a social challenge are the tools through which to talk about this pathology and to break down the stigma that affects the lives of the people who are affected by it.
“Raising public awareness of the challenges that people with type 1 diabetes face every day and breaking down prejudices about this condition is the goal we set ourselves with the Blue Balloon campaign, promoted in collaboration with patient associations”, he declares. Luigi Morgese, Business Director of the Diabetes Division of Medtronic Italy. “Medtronic has always been committed with its technological innovations to greater freedom and better health for millions of patients. Precisely with this in mind, we have developed this digital campaign aimed primarily at young people who, as we know, represent the age most affected by type 1 diabetes, but also to the whole community to raise awareness of this disease which has a strong impact on quality of life “.
“With Blue Balloon – he explains – we do it through the symbolic gesture of holding a blue balloon in the air while carrying out our daily activities. A gesture with which we want to share with conscience and responsibility, the daily challenge that type 1 diabetes represents “.
Type 1 diabetes leads to absolute insulin deficiency and typically occurs in childhood or adolescence, but can also occur in adults. In Italy it occurs every year in 8.1 children out of 100,000 and is a chronic condition from which it does not heal but can be controlled by respecting insulin therapy, following a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity. According to the World Health Organization, 422 million people in the world live with diabetes and about 5% of the Italian population. Type 1 diabetes affects about 300,000 Italians, that is 0.5% of the population.
“We know that among the factors that contribute to the onset of type 1 diabetes are those genetic, immune and environmental“he explains Emilio Augusto Benini, president of Fand. “What Fand has always maintained is that diabetic teams are enabled to carry out systemic and permanent therapeutic education aimed at the use of new drugs and new technologies, correct lifestyles, in order to allow the person with diabetes a correct self-control and self-monitoring of blood sugar which plays a fundamental role in the management of the disease, allowing you to live a normal life in all respects “.
“Over the past 20 years – highlights Gianni Lamenza, president of Agd Italia – many advances have been made in the treatment of type 1 diabetes in terms of drugs and diagnostic and therapeutic aids. However, this pathology still has an important impact on the habits and daily life of those affected. The evolution of technology provides tools capable of continuously monitoring blood glucose and automating insulin administration – he underlines – thus simplifying the management of therapy and significantly improving people’s quality of life. Campaigns such as ‘Blue Balloon’ are undoubtedly important to remind everyone, but especially people with type 1 diabetes and their families, that a correct approach to managing the disease allows them to lead a normal and free life “.
Holding a balloon in the air while projecting the presentation in a meeting or while chatting with friends or during the carefree hours at the park with your children: these are some of the scenes that make up the “Video Hero”, available in the section of the Medtronic website dedicated to in-depth information on the pathology (https://medtronic-diabete.it). In the video – explains a note – the everyday life of those suffering from type 1 diabetes is metaphorically represented: in every action performed, the person with diabetes must always keep in mind the importance of managing their condition, which results in the control of insulin and the changes in its values in their body. It is a delicate management, a daily and constant challenge throughout life, a condition too often ignored by those who do not live it on their skin because they are not fully known.
To echo the ‘Blue Balloon’ well-known personalities on the web and beyond come together, like Pastry Chef Damiano Carrara, Giulia Calefato Wellness Coach of Fitisbeauty, actress Ludovica Bizzaglia, soccer player Eleonora Goldoni and others, a team of influencers who have chosen to lend their voice to the campaign by sharing the “Video Hero”.
The second phase of the campaign will start on April 8th, with the # T1DBALLOONCHALLENGE challenge. After bringing the issue of the living conditions of type 1 diabetics to the attention of their community, the influencers will try to hold up a balloon while they carry out daily activities and will be able to do so thanks to the filter created specifically for the campaign that will allow recover as a blue balloon floats across the screen. With the filter – concludes the note – it will also be possible to stimulate content created by users to allow as many people as possible to participate in the challenge.