"Diabetes at sea", the challenge to the disease sets sail from Cagliari

The "Diabetes at sea: how technology can help" project sets sail tomorrow from Cagliari. A challenge to demonstrate how, despite the disease and thanks to the help of new and modern technologies and treatment opportunities, it is possible to lead a life without major complications, even in "complicated" situations such as, precisely, on board a boat .

A program proposed by the Diabete Zero ODV and JANASDIA associations, which since April have launched the annual solidarity campaign promoted by the Tender to Nave Italia Foundation with Nave Italia, the largest sailing brigantine in the world departing from the port of La Spezia.

The project envisages an exceptional collaboration with the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team , the Italian challenger at the 37th America's Cup, which for the occasion will open the doors of its Cagliari logistics base to embarkers for a guided tour and will board the brig , during the week of navigation, to create a seafaring laboratory together with the Navy crew .

After a careful selection, completed in December 2022, which saw the scientific committee of the Tender to Nave Italia Foundation engaged in analyzing the applications of around 50 associations, the 23 extraordinary crews were identified, including associations and non-profit organizations of the third sector from all over Italy and also from South Africa, who will sail aboard Nave Italia during the campaign together with the crew of the Navy and the scientific staff of the Foundation, to experience how the Nave Italia method positively affects the well-being of those who live in a discomfort or a disability.

THE CHALLENGE – From 11 to 15 July on board Nave Italia a group of insulin dependent type 1 diabetics, heterogeneous by sex, age and geographical origin, led by a medical team, will have to face the challenge of reconciling the timescales imposed by the disease with those of life on board . This will make it possible to evaluate the ability to adapt and use advanced technologies to get the patient used to managing the disease even away from medical support structures, trying to reduce the obstacles that hinder the already complex disease of diabetes.

For five days the participants will sail on the Sardinian sea, pledging not to "abandon" the ship, with the aim of learning how to manage the disease even in a problematic situation marked by the numerous activities on board. They will be supported by a specialist team, made up of Dr. Giancarlo Tonolo - Director of the Diabetology Operational Unit of the Gallura Local Health Authority and project manager - and other professionals, present both on board and, in electronic connection, from the mainland.

«Together with the teams involved, we will evaluate the ability to adapt in a different condition from that of every day , far from health facilities and pharmacies, assisted by telemedicine thanks to the connection with operators able to support patients from the ground - explains Dr. Tonolo . - The message must begin to pass that diabetes is not a disease that limits working or recreational possibilities: modern insulins drastically reduce hypoglycemia episodes and today we have devices that guarantee "intelligent" administration, allowing the patient to engage in activities once forbidden."

«It won't be easy at the beginning – continues Toniolo – but the goal of this project is precisely to learn to face the unexpected and extricate yourself from routine . The sea is an excellent element of comparison with our body, we need to learn to know it and get used to dealing with external events such as changes in the wind or currents, just as happens in the life of patients who have to deal with a change in blood sugar».

A training phase is also planned for those participating in the project: individual and group meetings on nutrition will be held in the weeks preceding departure, with particular attention to the management of anomalous situations in which, for various reasons, it is not possible to assume meals regularly, frequent conditions in life on board. Briefings will be held every day between patients and diabetologists aimed at making participants more aware of how the system works with them to achieve the goal of good metabolic compensation, which can be reconciled with any type of activity, without fear of chronic complications or hypoglycemia. The data will be transmitted to the ground team.

(Unioneonline/vl)