Don’t Let Diabetes Stand in Your Way

11 August 2009 - Just because you’ve got diabetes, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a wide range of sports. This was the message given to nearly one hundred youngsters from across the North West, and further afield, on Saturday (8 August), who attended a Soccer Skills Day at LiverpoolFC Academy.

The Around U Sports Soccer Skills Day, run in association with the Liverpool FC Academy and
sponsored by Bayer Diabetes Care and Diabetes.co.uk, included soccer skills training from Academy coaching staff, plus a talk from international snowboarder Chris Southwell, who also has diabetes, on how this life-long condition shouldn’t prevent children leading full and active lives.

Professors Neil Hanley and Rayaz Malik from the University of Manchester, both representing
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), spoke to the parents and guardians about the
charity’s research programme, including specific projects such as the artificial pancreas, plus
more general information on how JDRF funds its research.

After a player briefing from Academy coach, Phil MacDiarmid, the budding footballers had a
morning of soccer skills followed by a tour of the Academy – where football legends including
Steven Gerard and Michael Owen began their careers.

The event was organised by Bayer Diabetes Care and Diabetes.co.uk to promote Bayer’s Around
U programme which was launched in July 2008 to support children and young people living with
diabetes. Designed to present useful information in a fun and exciting way, Around U provides
Don’t Let Diabetes Stand in Your Way Young people with diabetes attend soccer skills day at Liverpool FC Academy online information as well as access to free of charge support materials through the website, www.bayerdiabetes.co.uk/aroundu
Good control, on and off the pitch, was the theme of the day. For people living with diabetes, it is
essential they keep control of their blood glucose levels to ensure they remain healthy. On the
pitch, Phil and the other Academy coaches helped the children keep a football under control while
their parents learnt how they can support their child, with regular monitoring. John Owens, Liverpool FC Academy manager, comments: “It’s always a pleasure to host children who have a real passion for the game and from what I saw today, some of the players demonstrated excellent ball skills.

“I was very impressed with how every one of today’s players handled their condition, on and off
the pitch. It just goes to show that having diabetes doesn’t have to stand in the way of your
dreams.”

Rachel Owen, Bayer Diabetes Care, added: “We provide a wide range of meters and support
materials to help children, and adults, manage their diabetes. An estimated 25,000 children under the age of 18 in the UK have diabetes1, so it is vital we have a network available to help young people, their parents and adults, with materials, advice and events where they can feel supported.

Around U aims to do just this and we feel very proud that so many young people have enjoyed
today’s soccer skills day at the Academy.”
David Holyoak, commercial director, Diabetes.co.uk, comments: “Diabetes.co.uk provides fast access to reliable diabetes information and latest web technologies including ‘myLifestyle’ online to help adults and children manage their diabetes more easily and freely. We are delighted that the children and their parents have enjoyed the Around U Soccer Skills Day at Liverpool Academy and glad to play our part in helping to make this happy occasion possible for so many children.”

All the young people attending today’s event were selected by diabetes specialist nurses from
around the country.

For more information:
http://www.bayerdiabetes.co.uk/aroundu