Diabetes Day Camp for kids scheduled

TYLER - Trinity Clinic Endocrinology is of fering a free children's Diabetes Day Camp on Aug. 18 from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. at The University of Texas at Tyler Herrington Patriot Center. The camp is open to diabetic children ages 6 to 16 with pre-registration required.

The Diabetes Day Camp will include interactive workshops and activities on nutrition, body image and taking responsibility for diabetes management. The program will offer instruction by the staff of Trinity Clinic Endocrinology. Space is limited. Early registration is encouraged.

"We have moved our annual camp from Mother Frances Hospital to a larger facility to accommodate more children," said Dr. Brian Robinson, an endocrinologist with Trinity Clinic. "Many children with diabetes feel like they are the only child that has it. The camp is designed to bring these kids together in a fun, learning environment."

The camp is designed for parents and their diabetic children. Education sessions will be held in the morning and one session in the afternoon; parents have separate education sessions.

Parents are invited for breakfast and lunch with the children having the afternoon events for themselves.

Sporting events, which will be conducted in conjunction with the UT Tyler cross coununder try, volleyball and women's soccer teams, include softball, kickball, volleyball, disc golf, swimming and hiking. A movie will also be shown.

According to the American Diabetes Association, for those under age 20 in the United States, about one in 400 to 600 have Type 1 diabetes. A much smaller percentage of young people have Type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes develops when the body's immune system destroys pancreatic beta cells, the only cells in the body that make the hormone insulin that regulates blood glucose. People with type 1 diabetes must have insulin delivered by injection or a pump. This form of diabetes usually strikes children and young adults, although disease onset can occur at any age. Type 1 diabetes accounts for 5 percent to 10 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 percent to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose metabolism, physical inactivity, and race/ ethnicity.

For more information on the program or to register, call (903) 510-1173. For more information on ser vices provided through Trinity Mother Frances Health System, visit www.tmfhs.org.