Marita and Heikki Vaiste donate €500,000 to TYKS Foundation for childhood and adolescent diabetes research
In its 25th anniversary year, Marita and Heikki Vaiste have donated €500,000 to the TYKS Foundation to support research on childhood and adolescent diabetes. The first grant from the Marita and Heikki Vaiste Fund will be awarded in 2026.
When their granddaughter was diagnosed with diabetes, Grandma Marita had to learn how to give insulin injections using an orange, and later Grandpa Heikki would be asked, “Grandpa, how many carbs are in this?”
Oona, Marita and Heikki Vaiste’s granddaughter, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at under two years old, 25 years ago. The diagnosis profoundly affected not only Oona and her parents but also her grandparents.
The grandparents were traveling abroad when Oona’s condition was discovered. They only learned she had been hospitalized after returning home, as the parents didn’t want to worry them during the trip. Early signs, such as Oona drinking excessively, raised concern and prompted medical investigation. The diabetes diagnosis came as a complete surprise.
Oona’s diagnosis was a huge shock, as it is a serious, lifelong disease. There was no diabetes in our family before, so we had a lot to learn. Oona spent a lot of time with us, so we had to learn the basics of her care as well. I practiced giving insulin injections on an orange first. The worry about whether we were doing everything correctly weighed heavily at first. Even at night, we had to monitor her condition and check her blood sugar if needed. The injections were scary at first, but fortunately, our brave little girl never complained,” recalls Marita Vaiste.
Measuring blood sugar soon became routine, and learning to administer insulin became essential. In type 1 diabetes, nutrition is equally important. Regular meal times must be maintained, and carbohydrates must be counted accordingly. Soon, Oona herself learned to monitor her intake, often asking Grandpa how many carbs were in her meals. Today, Oona is 27 years old, a practical nurse, massage therapist, and physiotherapy student who has learned to live with her condition.
Turku has a long history of diabetes research, including the DIPP study. Oona was tested as a newborn, but no elevated risk was detected at the time. After her diagnosis, she was invited to participate in a study investigating the causes of diabetes. Researchers still have much to uncover.
The Marita and Heikki Vaiste Fund at TYKS Foundation
The Vaiste family’s personal experience with diabetes inspired Marita and Heikki Vaiste to establish the Marita and Heikki Vaiste Fund at the TYKS Foundation, now celebrating its 25th anniversary. The fund will provide project and research grants for promising studies in childhood and adolescent diabetes. The total donation is €500,000, with grants ranging from €50,000 to €100,000. Grants from this fund are larger than the TYKS Foundation’s standard research grants, allowing diabetes research projects to advance more effectively. The first grant from the Marita and Heikki Vaiste Fund will be awarded in 2026.