{"id":43981,"date":"2016-05-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-05-24T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/diabetes-camp-is-good-for-you-too\/"},"modified":"2016-09-15T04:30:56","modified_gmt":"2016-09-15T08:30:56","slug":"diabetes-camp-is-good-for-you-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=43981","title":{"rendered":"Diabetes Camp Is Good For You Too"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ever since he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes four years ago, my eight-year-old son has begged for my husband and me to let him go to diabetes summer camp. But it wasn\u2019t until a couple of months ago, when my son\u2019s endocrinologist pulled me aside during a routine appointment, that I got the push we all needed. \u201cIt\u2019ll be so good for him,\u201d she said, as though she were handing me a prescription.<\/p>\n

Now, as spring turns to summer, we just received our son\u2019s registration information for a camp that\u2019s less than an hour away. In my research that lead us to this week-long overnight camp, I discovered what seemed like an endless variety of programs\u2014ranging from day camps to multi-night or – week overnights\u2014that happen across North America and, depending on the camp, cater to kids ages three to 18 to entire families. Most offer a combo of classic camp experiences and diabetes education in the form of peer interaction, teachable moments or structured classes.<\/p>\n

Last year the American Diabetes Association (ADA) completed a three-year study\u00a0to determine the impact of diabetes camps on the kids who attend them. According to the ADA, \u201cResults show improvements in self-confidence, diabetes-related stress, knowledge of diabetes management, and overall diabetes management.\u201d<\/p>\n

And the impact on parents?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Honestly, the idea of my kid going away for multiple nights, dependent on the care of strangers, gave me anxiety. But experts agree that diabetes camp has benefits for parents as well. Marisa Hilliard, Ph.D, clinical pediatric psychologist at Texas Children\u2019s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine said taking that break is good for the entire family<\/a>. \u201cParenting any child or teenager\u2014and especially one with a chronic condition like diabetes\u2014takes a lot out of a person. It can be hard for parents to find time to refill their personal resources, but it is so important that they do that. Knowing their children are in good hands at diabetes camp can be a great opportunity for parents to take care of themselves and prioritize their own needs for a few days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hillard said the notion parents have that this is selfish\u2014\u201cMy child cannot take a day off, why should I?\u201d\u2014is one she addresses with families often. \u201cSome might worry that this is selfish, but another way to think about it is that parents have to be fully stocked on energy, optimism, and persistence in order to have enough personal resources on hand to best take care of their child and his\/her diabetes. Even though the daily grind can sometimes feel like it revolves around diabetes care, this time can also be an opportunity for families to focus on and enjoy other things that are important to them\u2014this can help combat \u201cdiabetes burnout\u201d and fortify the family\u2019s strengths.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in learning more about diabetes camps, you might want to start with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), which\u00a0sponsors more than 50 camps<\/a>. From Camp Victory, in Anacoco, Louisiana, to Camp Discovery, in Junction City, Kansas, to Camp Courage, in Rockwood, Pennsylvania, there are accredited programs across the country for kids with type 1 diabetes\u2014and financial aid for those who need help with tuition. The ADA pledges that it is \u201ccommitted to providing a Camp experience for children with diabetes regardless of their family\u2019s ability to pay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Those in the Northeast can look into the Barton Center for Diabetes Education<\/a>, offering year-round programs to \u201cimprove the lives of children with insulin-dependent diabetes through education, recreation, and support programs that inspire and empower.\u201d In summer its Clara Barton Camp, in North Oxford, MA, hosts girls for one, two or three weeks; its Camp Joslin, in Charlton, MA, welcomes boys for up to three weeks. A new Vermont Overnight Camp, in August\u2014co-sponsored by SLAMT1D\u2014hosts boys and girls on a Lake Champlain island for a week in August. The Barton Center offers co-ed day camps in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Long Island; a Family Camp is also available for kids with type 1 diabetes and those who live with and care for them. Barton staffs its camps with \u201cexperienced endocrinologists, nurse educators, dieticians, mental health professionals, and well-trained counselors\u2014many of whom have diabetes themselves and serve as role models.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the Diabetes Education & Camping Association<\/a>\u00a0(DECA), supporting \u201c400 diabetes programs around the world.\u201d Barton Center and ADA camps are included in DECA\u2019s database, along with camps sponsored by the Nevada and California Diabetes Associations; southern Minnesota\u2019s Camp Sweet Life Adventures; and the Ontario-based Connected in Motion (which hosts outdoor adventures for kids and adults). Diabetes camps, asserts DECA, \u201cbuild safe environments around youth so they can learn to independently manage their diabetes amongst peers and dedicated professionals in an atmosphere of excitement and adventure.\u201d<\/p>\n

This summer will bring new adventures\u2014probably challenges, too\u2014in my family\u2019s journey with type 1 diabetes, but two things are for sure: my son is over the moon with excitement and I can\u2019t wait to sleep.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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