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In 2007, the total child population of the world (0-14 years) was estimated to be 1.8 billion, of whom 0.02% have diabetes. This means that approximately 440,000 children around the world have diabetes with 70,000 new cases diagnosed each year. This very large number of children needs help to survive with injections of insulin to live a full life without restrictions or disabling complications and without being stigmatised for their diabetes.

Even today, almost a century after the discovery of insulin, the most common cause of death in a child with diabetes from a global perspective is lack of access to insulin. Many children die before their diabetes is diagnosed. It is therefore of utmost importance that all forces unite to ensure that no child should die from diabetes. A promising initiative has been taken by IDF/Life for a Child (http://www.lifeforachild.org) in collaboration with ISPAD and other organisations (Access to Essential Diabetes Medicines for Children in the Developing World and Changing Diabetes in Children). Several major companies that produce insulin and other diabetes supplies have pledged their support, and the numbers of children provided with insulin will according to plan increase to approximately 30,000 by 2015. ISPAD has pledged structural support and assistance in the training of paediatricians and healthcare professionals in childhood and adolescent diabetes through its membership network.