SANTA'S LITTLE DIABETIC

Lachlan Di Pasquale, type 1, is helping children embrace their insulin pumps with the help of a 3D printer

- ELLIE GRIFFITHS

Once a year, Santa visits the children of the world and checks in on his cheeky elves; but this year his elves living with diabetes got a little something special. Fifteen-year-old Lachlan Di Pasquale has taken on a mission as “Santa’s Little Diabetic” by designing pumps and CGMs for the Christmas favourite, Elf on the Shelf. “My mum had previously shown me pumps that were available for dolls, but they were quite generic,” he says. “I thought it would be cool for kids to have realistic pumps/ CGMs for their toys that are just like their own.”

Using a 3D-printer to make them, Lachie has created two sizes for people to purchase. “The first is what I like to call ‘Elf’ size,” he explains. “Meaning they are sized accurately to the Elf on the Shelf but can be used on any toy/doll with similar sizing. The second size is what I call ‘Rufus’ size, meaning they were originally intended for the teddy [Rufus the Bear with Diabetes by JDRF] that the hospitals give out to recently diagnosed kids.”