| My Account | Subscribe | Contact Us | Donate |
Home
-
Diabetes and Adoption
Rachel and her husband chose to adopt a baby instead of meeting the challenges of handling a high risk pregnancy and Rachel’s type 1 diabetes at the same time. She shares their thought process and ultimate happy ending about the decision to bring a child into their lives.
-
Chris Matthews Makes Time for Diabetes
Hosting Hardball on MSNBC and The Chris Matthews Show keep Chris Matthews working long hours. But Matthews got a lesson in priorities and made some life changes when he was diagnosed with type 2.
-
A Chihuahua with Diabetes
Olivia and her dog both have diabetes and today they comfort and encourage each other through the rigors of dealing with the disease. Plus, find out what it means when your domestic pet is diagnosed with diabetes.
-
Smoking and Diabetes
Smoking has severe effects on your diabetes and your health. Learn why diabetes and smoking are an especially bad combination and get some tips from the experts on how to quit.
-
Continuous Glucose Monitors
CGM is a relatively new technology, but the information it provides is invaluable. Find out what CGM offers and whether it could help you.
The must-have resource for physicians, educators and medical professionals who focus on the treatment of diabetes.
Finally! A fresh take on the “professional” journal. Each bi-monthly issue cuts through the jargon and presents the most important information you need to enhance your practice and assist your patients.
Each bi-monthly issue of Diabetes Health Professional is a self-contained handbook covering products, educational resources and the latest diabetes research, complimented by balanced editorial focused on medical news, drug prescription information, clinical practice recommendations and changing treatment options.
Each quarter we send you the latest, most updated research guides, product guides and educational resource guides available for you and your patients.
Each week the Diabetes Health E-Newsletter delivers links to the very latest in news, reviews, blogs and videos from Diabetes Health direct to your inbox.
As a subscriber you'll get access to the amazing Diabetes Health Digital Advantage™ so you can read the current issue of Diabetes Health magazine online wherever you are!
Latest Camps for Kids Articles
Why Every Kid With Type 1 Should Consider It
Diabetes Camp
May 1, 2005
There are few kinds of diabetes education that are more beneficial for youth than diabetes camp. The “father of diabetes treatment,” Elliot P. Joslin, often referred to camps as “islands of safety for children with diabetes.”
A Place Where Kids With Diabetes Can Feel ‘Normal’
Diabetes camp is a place where kids are allowed to feel “normal.” They can hike, ski, rock climb and test freely because of the beautiful and strange camaraderie of their fellow diabetes friends.
One young man once told me that camp was his favorite place to be. He didn’t have to worry about the judgments of friends or answer questions about his diabetes.
At camp, everyone knows diabetes isn’t contagious.
There Is Probably a Diabetes Camp Near You
There are more than 160 diabetes camps across the country. Diabetes camps started within five years of the discovery of insulin. Visionaries like Leonard Wendt, MD, with his first residential camp for children with diabetes, and the Universalist women who started the Clara Barton Camp for girls with diabetes realized the need for an oasis for kids with chronic disease.
One of the oldest camps, celebrating 80 years, is Camp Joslin. I had my first Camp Joslin/Baron experience in the summer of 1999. I will never forget a question posed by one of the youngest campers: “Have you ever had a seizure?” The eager eyes waiting to make a connection, looking for another comrade, another partner, another friend with diabetes.
The answer was, “Yes.”
Since then, I have returned to Camp Joslin/Baron to see some campers turn into counselors and even caregivers.
Many Different Types of Camps
I recently visited another type of camp: family camp. A camp for families touched by diabetes, where they can come together to share, cry, laugh and strategize. How refreshing to watch parents sharing their fears; kids talking over pizza and parties; and siblings discussing a condition that often takes over a family.
Fran Kaufman, MD, former president of the ADA, is no stranger to diabetes camp. She has been involved in the camps for more than 20 years.
“Camp validates that there is no shame or blame attached to diabetes. It forces youth to realize they can control their diabetes; diabetes doesn’t have to control them,” says Kaufman.
A Great Gift for Your Child with Diabetes
The American Camping Association just completed a three-year study analyzing the benefits of camp in general. Campers said they make new friends easier after camp; that camp helped them feel better about themselves; and that they are more adventurous at camp.
If there is a gift you could give a child with diabetes, sans the cure, I would suggest it would be the experience of camp, no matter the child’s age.
Categories: Camps for Kids, Kids & Teens, Type 1 Issues
Facebook
MySpace 
Digg
Email to a Friend
Send a link to this page to your friends and colleagues.