Sport, Fun, Information: A Live Forum For Young People With Diabetes

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 10 Jul 2008 - 2:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

young people with diabetes visited the second My Camp D, once again turning this unique event into a huge success. Regardless of whether in information workshops, in exchange with other young people affected by the illness or at sport and play - participants joined in the action with enthusiasm and fun.

Anja is 28 and a kick boxer. Matthias is 29, an athlete and mountain climber. Larissa is 20 and a footballer. They are all connected by a common fate: diabetes mellitus. However, their quality of life seems to be little affected by it. For these five have accepted the challenge of not only getting their lives under control, but also becoming successful in competitive sports. This has made them role models for other young people with diabetes, offering them hope and confidence.

These young athletes are part of a team that organises the multifaceted sport programme at the summer camp "My Camp D 2008". The camp, which was held for the first time in 2006 and proved to be a huge success, represents an attractive "live forum for young people with diabetes". Here, in an unforced atmosphere, they can exchange information with their peers on their everyday lives with the metabolic disorder. And from leading experts, learn everything they need to know to optimise their medical care and actively shape their lives. "Speak to me!" is printed on the t-shirts of the medical professionals.

"Through our DAWN Youth Study, we are able to find out what makes a difference to young diabetics. What they are worrying about. What areas they need assistance with and where they can receive it." These are the words of Hansruedi Stahel, initiator and director of the camp. Stahel is the Business Development Director at Novo Nordisk in Mainz, which organised the event. "With the camp, we succeeded in transmitting knowledge to young people with diabetes in a playful and experiential manner, while also offering them hope for the future. And to learn how to adapt the therapy to one's own life - and not have to adapt one's life to the therapy."

The camp is part of a long-term strategy that the globally leading insulin specialist Novo Nordisk is using to holistically combat diabetes. In addition to awareness training, health professionals are aiming to avert the metabolic illness through prevention measures and improvement in treatment methods - or at the very least, avoid complications that are especially formidable among children and young people. For the current figures are alarming. From 1988 to 2004, diabetes, the most common illness in Germany, has increased by 54 per cent. Around 10 per cent of the population, or about 8 million people, are affected by diabetes mellitus. Globally, the number has reached 246 million. According to forecasts, this figure will rise to approximately 380 million people by 2025.

The treatment of children and young people with diabetes is a challenge for all those involved. The natural spontaneity of young people in everyday life, as well as the rapid hormonal changes in the phases of growth and puberty, make controlling the blood-sugar level in insulin therapy difficult. For this reason, in 2007 and 2008, on World Diabetes Day (14 November), initiated by the World Health Organization and the International Diabetes Foundation, a special focus was placed on children and young person.

Hansruedi Stahel: "The pandemic spread of diabetes is a challenge which we must face NOW. With events such as My Camp D, as well as our studies and research, we want to play a key role in ensuring that people with diabetes, particularly children and young people, can live fulfilling and experience-driven lives."

http://www.novonordisk.de
http://www.campd.de
http://www.my-campd-de-forum.de