August 24, 2022 3;20 a.m.

Mercy Foundation’s Youth Diabetes program has been awarded a grant from the CommonSpirit Mission and Ministry Fund.

Foundation Director Lisa Platt said the grant is for a total of $133,407. It will support the foundation’s youth Type 1 diabetes program called, Beyond the Diagnosis. Platt said type 1 diabetes is a complex and costly disease with no cure. Platt said the stress for families of T1D youth is immense. Currently, Douglas County families with a child diagnosed with T1D are left to navigate a healthcare system with little support and no local access to care.

Platt said Mercy Foundation’s program is an integrated system of wrap-around services focused on diabetes management, the prevention of further health complications, connection to care, education, access to resources and social/emotional support. Platt said the project will also help to expand access to an endocrinologist through telemedicine to relieve families of the necessity of having to travel six hours to get care.

To learn more about Mercy Foundation’s Youth Diabetes program, the Type 1 diabetes support group or T1D camp scholarships, go to: https://www.mercygiving.org/youth-diabetes.html