Dialogs About Diabetic Dynamos

Dialogs About Diabetic Dynamos

DIALOGS
ABOUT DIABETIC DYNAMOS
by Debra Frank, MS MS
CDE

LIONS Club International Diabetes
Education Program Sponsors Youth Camp

They come in with the LIONS and leave ready for

the challenge! For five years now the LIONS Club Diabetes Education Center has funded a

camp for children with IDDM. Each year, boys and girls, recruited by their hospital

diabetes education programs, are welcomed by the LIONS to a free summer camp program,

which focuses on their diabetic needs and continuing diabetes education.

The LIONS run fund raisers all year to cover the

approximately $50,000 needed for 20 children to attend camp free. This year, because of

increased interest and financial support, 22 children were sponsored for four weeks, as

compared to two weeks in previous summers.

The camp has been at Hofstra University and most

recently Friends Academy. By providing specialty nurses and at least one Certified

Diabetes Educator, the LIONS create a terrific atmosphere for self expression, diabetic

education, and interpersonal relationships between these 'extra sweet' children.

The basic format has changed over the years, but

the mission remains the same. The children are required to bring their own lunch and

snacks. They must provide their own blood sugar monitoring kits, and all must report to

the nurse's office before lunch and swimming. They eat together, and afterwards, the CDEs

come in to work with the children—the real mission of the camp.

This summer, several professionals came to the

camp: A nutritionist, a nurse educator, a psychologist, and an Exercise Physiologist

(that's me). Each one of the educators brought different, exciting stuff to the campers,

and in many instances we overlapped our materials.

Unique to my sessions was the relationship the

kids developed with me when I began my class by testing my blood sugar. Discussing

personal experiences and "growing up with diabetes" seemed to evoke an

assortment of questions and positive inquires. We all seemed to relate to the topics both

academically and personally. For example, discussions of hypoglycemia, what it is, why it

happens, and how to handle it led to funny and bizarre stories each child could relate to.

It was empowering to hear these youngsters discuss their diabetes—how it affects

their lives, their family, and friends, and how they handle diabetes in general. It was as

if, although I came in to educate them, the children embraced me and taught me more then I

ever expected. Many of them keep in touch with me and some even join me in the JDFI

Walk-A-Thon each year.

Many of us remember our experience at camps for

diabetic kids. I sure do. I even made one lifelong friend who became a nurse and CDE.

Ironically, he passed away at age 37 from advanced complications following both blindness

and renal failure. I still believe he lived hard and died young, but genetics also play a

big role in these matters. The friendship still brings fond and frightening memories to my

mind.

Being asked by Alice and Norman Cohen, original

LIONS Club Camp coordinators, to work as the CDE at Hofstra set me into retrospective and

futuristic thought patterns. "How do I get the messages across, that so many have

said over and over again? How do I make the information tangible to these 7- to

14-year-old children, without confusing or frightening them? How do I motivate them to

listen, learn, and comply?" Children are so impressionable, and being both an

educator and a role model is a true challenge, even with my extensive background. But when

I began to relax and flow with the program, the topics at hand led us to energized

discussions.

Diabetes treatment, education, and programming

has changed dramatically over the years, but one thing that has not changed is the serious

nature of the disease. We learn to take responsibility for personal health, and we learn

to balance the demands of independent care. Being able to maintain a positive attitude

about this serious responsibility requires extra work and incentives. The LIONS Club

Diabetes Education Camp has introduced a truly successful project to the general

population. I for one can't wait to see these kids again and I believe they will take

control of their diabetic needs like troopers!

Meeting so many other healthy, happy, active

peers with IDDM is a wonderful opportunity for diabetic children. Sharing with adult

diabetics who live successful qualitative lives is reinforcing to these children. I will

continue to work with and volunteer for the LIONS Club as they spend their time raising

money to host this camp. Special tanks to Annette Hauck, RN, Betsy Carey, RN, Terry

Joseph, RN, Alice and Norman Cohen, and of course Renee and Steven Levetz, who coordinated

this year's camp program.

Any ideas or donations of products or money are

gratefully appreciated. Send all inquires to Debra Frank, c/o VOICE OF THE DIABETIC.