- Child & Family Support
Empowering Children Beyond Healthcare
A child with Type 1 Diabetes needs more than insulin—they need guidance, confidence and ongoing support.
Our programs empower every child and family with education, encouragement and a caring community at every step of their journey.
Emotional Care
4,500+
Counseling Sessions
Education
3,200+
Workshop Graduates
School Support
180+
Partner Schools
Scholarships
650+
Children Funded
- Programs
Four Pillars of Support
- Beyond Medicine
Joy, Play & Community
Annual Diabetes Camp
A safe and joyful space where children with Type 1 Diabetes make new friends, learn new things, build confidence, and feel supported every step of the way.
Creative Arts Program
A welcoming space where children explore their creativity through art, music, stories, and other fun activities. The program helps them build confidence, discover their talents, and enjoy expressing themselves in their own way.
Peer Support Groups
A supportive space where children with Type 1 Diabetes and their families can meet others who understand their journey, share their experiences, learn from one another, and feel connected and supported.
- Watch
A day in the life of an Idhayangal child
Arjun was a young boy with Type 1 diabetes. One day, he became critically ill due to DKA and was declared dead by a doctor. With no money for treatment, his mother carried him in an auto, hoping to find help. On the way, she stopped at a private hospital and carried Arjun inside. Dr. Krishnan Swaminathan examined him and found his heart was still beating — he immediately started treatment and put Arjun on a ventilator. Arjun was in a coma. His mother pleaded that his 8th birthday was in four days and asked the doctor not to let it become his death day. After four days of treatment, Arjun recovered — on his 8th birthday. Dr. Krishnan Swaminathan and his team decorated the ward and brought his parents in, filled with happiness. This experience inspired Dr. Krishnan Swaminathan to start Idhayangal Charitable Trust to support children with Type 1 diabetes who cannot afford treatment. Today, Idhayangal supports Arjun with insulin and education, and he is now studying in his third year of catering.
His 8th birthday is in four days. Please save him. I don't want his birthday to become his death day.
— Arjun's motherA life saved became the beginning of many more lives being supported. Arjun is Idhayangal's Star of the Month.
— Team Idhayangal
Yuvashree is an 18-year-old girl living with Type 1 diabetes and receiving support from Idhayangal Charitable Trust. Her father had passed away, and her mother worked as a housemaid to support the family. One day, Yuvashree came to the hospital with pain in her left leg. Doctors found cancer, and her leg had to be removed immediately to stop it from spreading. Yuvashree stayed strong and bravely accepted the surgery. The very next day, she called Dr. Krishnan Swaminathan and told him her leg had been removed but she had no pain — her courage inspired everyone. Dr. Krishnan Swaminathan personally supported her in getting an artificial limb, and after treatment and training, Yuvashree learned to walk again. As she had promised, she walked into Idhayangal one day. Today, Yuvashree has completed a beautician course. During Idhayangal's 9th Annual Day, she even helped with saree draping for the staff, earned ₹5,000 — and donated ₹500 of it back to Idhayangal.
My leg has been removed, but I have no pain.
— YuvashreeYuvashree's courage turned the hardest situation into a new beginning. She is Idhayangal's Star of the Month.
— Team Idhayangal
Krishnitha entered Idhayangal just a few months ago with days to live — glucose of 600, emaciated, and seemingly no hope. But with a small helping hand from Idhayangal, this amazing child fought back with such grace and a smile, despite a huge thigh abscess, septicemia, and severe hyperglycemia. Within months, disciplined insulin pump therapy brought her glucose levels under control. In a proud moment for her and her family, Krishnitha recently received a prize at the State Abacus Competition.
We had given up hope. Watching her smile and compete again feels like a miracle.
— Krishnitha's parentsEveryday at Idhayangal is life's learning from our children on beating the odds with such grace and fierce determination. Krishnitha and her parents are Idhayangal's Stars of the Month.
— Team Idhayangal
Makilamuthan Naveen, a 2-year-old child from Erode, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus 9 months ago. His HbA1c is 9.4%, with a history of one DKA admission and one hypoglycemic admission due to poor insulin administration techniques. His father is a salon worker with alcohol dependence, while his mother, Mrs. Vidhya, works in a textile company. The family's monthly income is approximately Rs.22,000. Due to domestic issues, Mrs. Vidhya is currently residing at Thayagam Social Service Society with the support of Idhayangal. Makilamuthan Naveen is the 4,000th registered beneficiary of Idhayangal Charitable Trust and has been enrolled for continued diabetes care and support.
"Every child deserves access to the right diabetes care, support, and a chance to live a healthy future."
— Team IdhayangalMakilamuthan Naveen's journey marks a significant milestone for Idhayangal as our 4,000th registered beneficiary.
— Idhayangal Charitable Trust
Selvanayaki is proof that Type 1 diabetes is no deterrent to excellence. Coming from a poor family and enduring relentless insulin injections four times a day, she never let her condition slow her down. She scored an incredible 489 out of 500 in her 10th grade board exams, including a perfect 100/100 in Science, and topped her school. Selvanayaki now dreams of becoming an Endocrinologist so she can help children like herself.
Every injection, every hard day — it was all worth it to see her stand as school topper.
— Selvanayaki's parentsSelvanayaki and her awesome parents are Idhayangal's Stars of the Month.
— Team Idhayangal
At the Joys of Idhayangal camp in Pondicherry, Dev Dharshini from Vadalur reminded everyone what true strength looks like. Facing absolute poverty, brittle Type 1 diabetes requiring insulin four times a day, and a severe neuro-developmental delay, she was still the happiest child at camp — a brightness that seemed to dwarf the sun. Despite everything, her family has helped her keep her A1c steady at 8%.
We do not complain. She is happy, and that is all we ever ask for.
— Dev Dharshini's parentsDev Dharshini and her parents gave all of us at camp a lesson in how beautiful life is, and how grateful we should be every single day. They are Idhayangal's Stars of the Month.
— Team Idhayangal- Success Stories
Children Whose Lives We've Transformed
Behind every statistic is a child — a story of struggle, hope, and triumph. These are just a few of the 4,200+ lives we’ve touched.
- Make an impact
Fund the Future of Diabetes Care
Idhayangal Charitable Trust began its journey in 2017, supporting around 10 children with just ₹5,000. We were low in money, but high in motivation. What started with a small contribution and a big dream has grown into a mission to give children and families the diabetes care and support they deserve.












