7 March 2014
Waikato Kids with Diabetes Remember Summer for Right Reasons
Summer 2014 is firmly etched into the minds of 23 Waikato children living with diabetes, even as the season draws to a
close.
And this year the holiday memories are not of insulin injecting and blood glucose monitoring.
They are merry ones of swimming, kayaking, arts and crafts, baking, team challenges and sports.
All thanks to the annual Waikato Diabetes Kids Camp.
The camp, which this year ran for one week during the January school holidays, is organised by the Waikids paediatric diabetes team at Waikato DHB and funded by Diabetes Waikato.
Key organiser Waikato DHB clinical psychologist Joanna McClintock said invitations are sent to all Waikato DHB patients
aged between 7 and 12 years old with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
“These children, in their day to day lives, often have minimal contact with others who face the same challenges that
they face with diabetes,” she said.
Diabetes means their bodies either can't make insulin or the insulin doesn't work in their bodies like it should. The
glucose can't get into the cells normally, so the blood glucose level gets too high. Lots of glucose in the blood makes
them sick if they don't have insulin injections and get treatment.
“The Waikato Diabetes Kids Camp is a chance for them to participate in activities in an environment where they are the
majority instead of the minority. What’s more, the importance of the camp lies not only in a week of fun for kids, but a
week of respite for parents.”
And the proof is in the pudding.
“Looking at feedback from the camp, one kids said; ‘It’s just so good to be with other people who understand what I have
to deal with every day of my life. It’s helpful to come to camp and be a normal kid,’” Dr McClintock said.
Staff from Waikato DHB, Raukura Hauora o Tainui and representatives from the two Pharmac funded pump companies supervise
and oversee the activities and diabetes management by helping kids check their blood glucose levels and give them
insulin during the day.
“Seeing children engage in diabetes management tasks that they have not completed independently before is a key
highlight of these camps,” Dr McClintock said.
This year marked the camp’s tenth anniversary, to which four camp staff have attended all ten of the camps held since
1994.
And although organising for the next year’s camp begins as soon as the previous camp finished, Dr McClintock says the
countless hours of work are all worth it.
“It’s a huge effort, but it’s of huge value. The pleasure kids and their families receive makes it all worthwhile,” she
said.
See photos from the camp here.
About Waikato District Health Board and Health Waikato:
Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding and providing quality health and disability support services for the 373,220
people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual turnover of $1.2 billion and employs more than 6450 people.
Health Waikato is the DHB’s main provider of hospital and health services. It has six groups across five hospital sites, three primary
birthing units, two continuing care facilities and 20 community bases offering a comprehensive range of primary,
secondary and tertiary health services.
A wide range of independent providers deliver other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health,
pharmacies and community laboratories.
ENDS