A young girl is giving herself an injection in her right leg. Verso: A full life despite diabetes World Health Day 7 April 1971. World Health Day marks the anniversary of the coming into force of the Constitution of the World Health Organization (WHO) on 7 April 1948. The theme has been chosen to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the discovery of insulin. " We knew that with insulin, our children could survive. But we wanted more than that - we wanted them to live ..." In former days, that ambition of a young mother would have been diffiult to fulfil. Before the discovery of insulin there was only one main treatment for diabetes. An iron disipline that restricted all diet and kept sufferers on the verge of starvation. the regime was particularly strict for children. Nowadays however, thanks to insulin, much more ample diets are permitted. But although even today the daily life of a diabetic is carfully regulated, the atomosphere is completely different. In the words of one leading expert: " What is important for the child is the attitude for his parents, of doctors and nurses, friends and relatives, the teacher in the classroom. The enviroment must not be overprotective and strained, but instead should help the young diabetic to understand his problem and train him to independence. Autonomy is for diabetic children almost a physiological need, and a goal towards which the family concerned should be orientated" Autonomy is essential for diabetic suffers. Daily self-injection. WHO/15014.
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World Health Organization; Source: Record; Research date: 20151014