Type One Run aims to bring together Type 1 diabetics and unite them through running and exercise.

Nupur Lalwani was eight years old when she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (previously called juvenile diabetes). An auto-immune disorder, those who develop Type 1 diabetes need to take insulin via shots or a pump for life. Insulin can be a difficult drug to manage but after 23 years of dealing with Type 1, Nupur is aware that despite being a serious condition, she can live a full life.

“I have been running half, full and even ultra marathons,” says Nupur, a hotelier who has now taken a break to volunteer with the highly driven team of Club 1 at KEM hospital.

“We encourage people living with Type 1 diabetes to live positively,” she adds.

“Gone are the days when a person living with typical Type 1 diabetes would be morose and depressed with the effort to constantly control his/her sugar levels,” says 34-year-old Sairekha Suresh.

An attorney, Sairekha has been living with Type 1 diabetes since age 11. Now a partner in her father’s firm, she along with Nupur — guided by Dr C S Yajnik, diabetologist and founder of the diabetes centre at KEM hospital — have set up the Club 1 diabetes group.

Type 1 diabetics need to find a fine balance between taking 3-6 daily injections, testing blood glucose at least 5-10 times a day, eating right and exercising to maintain blood glucose levels in the optimal range to survive each day at a time.

“For years I have struggled to make Type 1 diabetics a happy lot. It is only in the last couple of years and with funding from philanthropic organisations like Mukul Madhav Foundation and Nityasha that we now are able to set up a Club 1 diabetes group,” Dr Yajnik said.

Club 1 diabetes has a sizable following of over 2,000 people on social media. They are on Facebook and Instagram sharing interactive videos and posts.

“Around five in one lakh children across the world have Type 1 diabetes. Due to India’s large population lakhs of people are living with this disorder,” says Dr Yajnik, who admits that at their centre there has been an increase in the number of children with Type 1 diabetes.

“In poorer communities the condition remains undiagnosed and can even cause death,” the diabetologist said.

Hence, Club 1 diabetes is to bond with diabetics, non-diabetics and create awareness about Type 1. “For this, we participate in Type One diabetes runs,” says Nupur.

Type One Run (www.typeonerun.org) is a global platform that aims to bring together Type 1 diabetics from around the world and unite them through running and exercise.

The growing Pune group of 80-100 people meets once a month for a 5-km run around scenic locales and follows it up with a healthy and fun breakfast.