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.