Why send my child to diabetes camp?

Recent research has shown that diabetes camps are the best place to teach children how to manage Type 1 diabetes. Akdeniz University in Turkey published results in December, 2005 showing that those patients who attended diabetes camp showed a significant improvement in self-management compared to those from the same clinic who did not attend camp. This study reiterated what a previous study had shown at the Joslin Diabetes Center at Harvard University. In addition, Setebaid Services® is currently conducting a five-year study on the benefits of diabetes camp. While not yet complete, the study has shown many benefits from camp. Below are some of the reasons why camp is so important for children living with diabetes.

Children with diabetes often feel alone; sure they can share their feelings with their family and friends, but their family and friends don't have diabetes. The children long to share their feelings with someone who has diabetes. Diabetes camp is a place where the campers do not feel different. The campers all have diabetes and blood glucose monitoring becomes the norm, not something that makes the camper feel different.

In addition, camp offers diabetes education by professionals who have experience working with children. Camp is a child-friendly atmosphere where expertise is offered by diabetes specialists. Diabetes camp also offers the same benefits of any other residential camp-games, new friends, and a lot of fun!

Summer camps offer educational experiences ranging from socialization to living away from home, to discovering nature. New skills will be developed, including boating, swimming, arts and crafts, dancing, archery, soccer, basketball, fishing, singing and many others. And, there are medical professionals on-site who specialize in diabetes care, relieving any diabetes-related worries for the parents.

Positive peer education is easily established at camp. Positive peer education is the reason that many children learn to give their first insulin injection or learn to check their blood glucose levels. Others learn to adjust their insulin or count carbohydrates. Peer pressure and positive role models are the some of the greatest educational tools at diabetes camp.

Camp also offers socialization with others who have diabetes, including staff and campers. Diabetes camp breaks the barriers between health professionals and the campers. The physicians are no longer the people in white coats that pop into a room to "look over" the child for a few minutes. The camp physicians go to activities and spend time with the children at camp. They eat with the children in the same dining hall and play the same games as the campers.

Finally, camp works well as a diabetes educational tool because it uses "teachable moments". For example, when a child experiences a low blood sugar at camp, the staff use it as a teachable moment. Signs and symptoms are discussed and treatment of a low is recognized by the campers. Physicians review blood sugar levels with the campers during blood glucose monitoring periods and work with the campers to adjust insulin levels. Teens especially benefit from "teachable moments" and learn to adjust their insulin levels at camp. In short, camp is an enjoyable way to learn about diabetes! Camper Quote: "I like diabetes camp because people see me for who I am, not the condition [diabetes] I have".