It is very hard for them to impress upon the young people the need for changes in their diet and exercise and injections. Young people want to be like their friends. The parents too are in need of education, sometimes they blame the children for contracting this disease. Many people are afraid of diabetes and diabetics, and think that they will lose limbs and go blind. Somehow they think that the insulin will make them blind.
Education is extremely necessary.
In Nicaragua, we are hosted by the Red Cross. They send a driver to take us to the monthly meeting of the group of diabetics. Oscar is there at nine. We arrive at the meeting, there are about one hundred people there. They are standing in lines to have their fingers poked to check their blood.