The Hippo soft toy

Hippo was born on 14 November 2008, World Diabetes Day

A soft toy with type 1 diabetes! Just like children with the condition, he measures his blood sugar several times a day and injects insulin, because his pancreas produces too little or none at all. He is a unique companion for young patients! His name was no coincidence either: Hippo sounds like 'hypo', the term for an abnormal drop in blood sugar that makes a person with diabetes unwell. Today Hippo is an indispensable source of comfort for many children with type 1 diabetes. Many young patients have received this soft toy over the years and still bring him along to consultations or hospital stays. With financial support from the pharmaceutical sector (Abbott), Belgian children receive a Hippo soft toy free of charge when they are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.