Day 15 - Sixtieth Camp Blog Entry
August 3rd, 2008 by Steve
Well, Texas Lions Camp for Children with Diabetes is now officially over. I can happily report that NONE of our 411 diabetic campers experienced either severe hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis during their collective two week camp experience. The latter is now pretty routine, but the former makes me extremely happy to report since over the past few years we’ve been plagued with campers experiencing severe hypoglycemia. The problems with maintaining insulin pump infusion site integrity during camp resulted in several campers with early stage ketosis, but that was as far as it got. Frankly we are always overly prepared for these problems and conduct extensive training on how to best manage and prevent it.
Regarding prevention of severe hypoglycemia, I attribute our diligence with screening for “mystery boluses” as one reason for why we had no severe hypos this year. Before screening bolus histories a few years ago, a mystery boluser managed to induce severe hypoglycemia (as she later said, for “not being asked out to the dance”) by bolusing 20 units right after lights out. Had we screened her pump memory, we would have seen similar events in the past few weeks. Today, by aggressively reviewing insulin pump bolus histories, we seem to be preventing some (hopefully most) of these events. Years ago, we identified campers on injections who were probably insulin omitting and made changes to their doses to prevent these kinds of problems.
Parent’s day was packed. I had a lot of good questions afterwards. We were also able to distribute complimentary DVD’s with over 2000+ digital photos, 60 current songs, and over an hour of camp video. This was done once again by Mr. Mike Koch, a camper parent-volunteer who defines the meaning of dedication, perseverance and ingenuity as it relates to supporting the Texas Lions Camp Diabetes Camp program.
To a person, our camp med staff has learned a lot. Mystery bolusing is only one of the things they’ve learned. These hard working folks are dead tired, as I can directly testify based on how exhausted my two adult daughters are today, plus myself. I had to pull over to nap on the ride back home, in spite of a good 10 hours of sleep last evening.
I know we accomplished our three goals of camp. First, the campers had fun. Second, they were safe (as described above). Third, they did learn more about their diabetes. I heard it during check out when some campers came back with their parents to tell us good bye. My unofficial “fourth” goal was also achieved: that the professionals in the med staff learned more about managing type 1 diabetes.
Med staff has lived in a bubble the past couple of weeks. We’ve also been chronically sleep deprived and put to our collective physical limits. In spite of this, the main topic of discussion yesterday seemed to be about who is coming back next year and who will be telling colleagues and friends about what they learned and how they plan on being back next year. After 27 years, I’ve learned that about 25% will make good on these promises. Still, returning med staff is key to the success of our diabetes program. Still, I deeply appreciate the fact they have been here this week (or two) and gave all they could for the kids. To me, next year is another matter and is best left for next year.
Finally, is diabetes camping still relevant? After all, children with diabetes are not barred from participating in activities once barred to them simply because they had a chronic disease. Societal barriers to having diabetes are fewer than ever before. Does it make a difference to have camps like these? I have my own opinions about this, but I would invite yours. I hope you will let me know what you think.
In the meantime, after floating down the Medina River today, I plan on getting another good night’s sleep. A few years ago, I learned to take off the Monday after camp. The older I get, the smarter that decision seems. Yet camp is in my blood and I’m already looking forward to next year. But… don’t tell my staff!
Last 5 posts by Steve
- Halloween and Diabetes CAN mix! - October 5th, 2009
- Introducing Healthy Families of South Texas - October 5th, 2009
- Complications 101 - About Kidney Failure - August 23rd, 2009
- The Sleep Bolus - August 18th, 2009
- The Dirty Truth Behind DCCT - August 16th, 2009
August 5th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I just wanted to say that this was my son’s first camp experience and first time away from home. Not sure who it was harder on-him or us, but I noticed that he did not cry as I left him there with tear-filled eyes. He has not stoped talking about his experiences or all the great people he met there. But more important is that he has continued with the lessons learned and has been pretty much in range since his return home. I am forever greatfull to the staff and friends at the Texas Lions Camp. God bless you for all the hard work you do and for making a positive difference in so many lives.
Jeff and Marie
P.S.
My son hopes to return next year.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Thank you so much for the kind words. My staff is the reason for the results we see every year. They pour their hearts out for the campers. I’m so happy your son enjoyed his time there and hope he will return someday. I also hope he enjoys the DVD memory disk.
August 6th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Is diabetes camp relevant? Yes! Yes! Yes! Although it is true that many of the barriers that existed in the past are nonexistant today, young diabetics have new barriers. One of the new barriers is the ability to keep up with the current technology behind the daily care of diabetes. All the technology gives the diabetic and their family the tool to take better care of themselves in preventing long term complications. But, some of these tools are so advanced that we are not able to keep up with the education needed to take advantage of the tools. Plus, the one thing that camp can do that can never be duplicated is that the camp is filled with diabetic kids. These kids go to school and are lucky to have one other kid in the school that might also have diabetes. Some kids go to schools where they are the only diabetic on the campus. Even as parents, we may think we know, but no one can really understand what a diabetic goes through than another diabetic. A comment I heard from my child the first time she attended camp several years ago was, “Mom, there were kids just like me…everywhere!” Camp provides an avenue to talk about what they do and go through day to day. Your “campfire chats” with the teenagers at their camp out is a great way for them to talk about issues that diabetic teens deal with in a non-judgmental way.
This was my daughter’s last year of camp because she is now 15. A price could never be placed on the value of the friendships she has made, the confidence she has developed or the knowledge she has gained at camp. Because of her experiences which are probably similar to most diabetic campers, camp will always be relevant.
August 7th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Wow! Well said. Thank you for your eloquence!
August 8th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
As a parent who was as parent’s day and heard your very informative education talk, I also agree wholeheartedly diabetes camp is still very relevant. This is my 11 year old’s 2nd camp, the 1st one in TX. The friendships she has made are priceless, and her enthusiam in looking forward to camp is contagious. She has also commented on how although we as parents move heaven and earth to take care of our kids, we do not know what low or high blood sugars feel like to our children. The knowledge that there are other kids just like her is invaluable, and I personally believe vital to her continued success. I know as a parent I will not always be here to watch over everything, and that I am training her to manage this moronic disease on her own. Camp is also vital in this respect, as one of your goals is to improve the self-management skills of the kids. Your work and dedication to this camp is much appreciated, and it was an honor to meet you.
August 8th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I really enjoyed the camp blog you posted, I would love to be able to read a blog from endocrinologists and their experiences with patients. Might lead to an understanding of why Doctors put patients on NPH and resist pumps for some of their patients.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:20 am
A special diabetes camp is definetely still needed!!!! My 15 year old daughter isn’t barred from doing anything becuase of her diabetes - she plays on the high school tennis team and is stage manager of our high school theatre company. However, she still feels no one understands what she has to deal with and sometimes ignores her diabetes care so she can go along with the group without always standing out - until she gets to camp - then she finally feels like she has no problems at all becuase everyone else has diabetes and eveyone is counting carbs and taking thier blood sugar all the time and she never has to explain what she is doing or what it feels like to be low. With teens they tend to get burned out, rebellious and not manage thier diabetes well, but if everyone is doing it together they get back into a good mangement rhythym that remains when they return from camp. One of her teenage friends from camp had not been controlling her diabetes well at all before going to camp this summer - but once she got together with all her other friends with diabetes, they got on her about the importance of good control and she has been doing great ever since she left camp. Hearing it form anoher personwtih daibetes rather than a doctor or parent has a much stronger affect. My daughter would be lost and feel alone without camp - she looks forward to it all year long.
February 15th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
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