24KIT
camps. It is through these activities,
and speaking to many people
with diabetes who had a fear of
hypoglycaemia, that he wanted to
create something to offer them
support and peace of mind.
In addition to this, as more
patients with diabetes have CGMs
and other tech with them at all
times, he connected the dots and
realised it is easier now that ever
for people with diabetes to support
each another, not only with advice
but with resources and even
technology when in times of need.
This led to the creation of DiaHelp
in 2020, an app designed to connect
people with Type 1 diabetes and,
more specifically, helping them in
times of crisis. The launch of the
app was particularly timely given
the global pandemic. The app was
useful to users in Croatia during
lockdowns, enabling them to offer
advice to each other at a time when
it was increasing difficult to speak
to medical professionals. Covid was
a difficult time for many people,
particularly those with underlying
health conditions such as diabetes.
DiaHelp made that time less isolating
for many diabetics across Croatia.
Says Skeledžija, "The app is all
about community and allows those
with diabetes to not only meet other
people who are within their area with
the condition but also allows them
to be there for each other in times
of crisis. For example, if someone
is experiencing hypoglycaemia,
they can call for help via DiaHelp.
Users can alert other people in their
community who have diabetes, if
they are in need of medicine, medical
equipment or simply to ask for
any advice."
DiaHelp allows users to list if they
'need help' or if they 'can help' and
set distance parameters enabling
them to support other diabetics up
to 100km away. So far 2,300 people
have downloaded the app worldwide
and the DiaHelp team are working on
expanding the number of users in the
coming years.
DiaHelp is free to download and
key diabetes organisations in Croatia
have supported the app by inviting
their communities to join, again
something the team are hoping to
replicate in other European countries
in the coming months.
Meet new people
While DiaHelp was designed to
enable those with Type 1 diabetes
to support each other in times
of medical need, the app is also
Against all odds,
we fight diabetes
~ Davor Skeledžija a great way to meet new people
with diabetes and therefore can
offer value to Type 2s as well. The
messaging function allows you
to speak to other users to share
knowledge, experiences and enables
you to see if there are people in your
local area who may be facing similar
challenges to your own.
Davor Skeledžija and the
DiaHelp team are hoping to raise
additional funds to support further
developments of the app, to
allow greater reach and support
for diabetes patients worldwide,
ensuring they utilise the technology
available to them and live a safer and
more fulfilled life. Skeledžija notes,
"Diabetes is a serious condition, but
people can live with it appropriately."
The app has achieved great
success in Croatia and has been
averaging new users daily since
2020. It is now available around the
world and can be downloaded from
App Store, or via Google Play or from
the app's website www.diahelp.app