Kids and camp IDDM…………..
Yeah me too! Hi Elizabeth………
But I never trusted my mother - Dad gave me my shots for the first six
months or so.
At age 11 I hated it! Had to learn to do it though……….
I went to diabetic camp here in California for four summers in the
Sierras near Kings Canyon National park and loved it. The important thing
was socializing with other people (kids and some adults too) that had type
1 IDDM like me. At camp we used to call normal people “NDs” short for
non-diabetics. When you called a person that name it was obvious that they
just didn’t understand. Being a type 1 diabetic as a kid means you are
somewhat isolated since (probably) no one has it around you and even your
relatives don’t understand what is going on from the diabetic’s
perspective. Only another young person having type 1 IDDM has the same
view and is facing the same problems. 95 percent of diabetics out there are
middle aged type 2 adults. Not someone a kid is going to relate to. And
type 2 is a different situation. Camp is worth it. FYI - all kids that
have diabetes are Type 1 - IDDM or insulin dependent.
I have had it 38 years now. Plus - IMHO - they will find a “cure” for
this condition within about ten years or so. Inform your type 1 child that
they are working on a cure and the person that gets type 1 today probably
will be able to stop taking insulin someday in the near future. This is
only my opinion………….but they are seriously working on the implanted
insulin secreting beta cells now. It’s just a matter of time.
Good health!
Carlos E