1. The importance of self-management
Setting the scene
The importance of self-management
Pedro Miguel Sequeira Pires Young Patients’ advocate with diabetes

2. about myself
19 years old student of Software and Computing Engineering.
Patient with diabetes for 10 years.
Worked 5 years advocating for diabetes, in activities such as:
EPF’s and IDF’s (International Diabetes Federation) youth leadership camp;
Being active in NJA – A diabetes youth group in Portugal;
Monitoring summer camps for patients with diabetes (aged ~12-18);
Doing expeditions and hikes to raise awareness.

4. How much time does a patient spend with a healthcare professional?
Diabetes is a 24/7 condition!

5. Self-management – knowing the details
How many of you jabbed yourself with a sharp piece of metal in the last 3 months?
How about twice? And five times?
Now imagine doing that, five times per day, every day!

6. Self-management – knowing the Day-to-day
PLEASE NOTE: SOME IMAGES ARE PLACEHOLDERS AND I’D LIKE TO ADD MY OWN WHEN IN THE FUTURE
Patients should have a role in advocacy and policy changing!

7. Self-management – Asking questions
Are there other/better alternatives?
Should I hide my condition?
What about my medication in another country?
How will my condition affect sports?
Is there a way to make this less bothering?

8. Answering the questions - Paving a way for the future
Ask yourself the questions before and imagine yourself in an enviroment you’ve perhaps never been in.
Did you feel unconfortable or perhaps overwhelmed?
Try coming up with solutions to each question to reduce this feeling.
How did you do?
Is there any policy/solution so that I don’t feel discriminated?
Are there proper tools to help me do sports freely?
Is there information about how I can easily find (or buy) medication outside of my country?

9. Answering the questions - example
What would you do to not jab yourself with a needle five times every day?
In Portugal, all patients in the paediatric range will have access to pumps by 2019

10. Answering the questions - example
What if I want to study in Brussels, how much would my insulin and test stripes cost?
Highlight the importance of healthcare professionals offering information and support Consider new policies that would best suit these problems

11. Final Remarks – a look at the past, to change the future

12. We should be thankful for our current tools and policies, but always looking at the future – so that we don’t risk looking like this for the rest of our lives.
Pedro Miguel Sequeira Pires Young Patients’ advocate with diabetes