THE GOAL OF THE PROJECT
The main purpose of the "My Friend is Diabetes" camp is to teach children with Type 1 diabetes about diabetes so that they can become friends with diabetes. One of the aims of the camp is to help people look to the future with hope despite the difficulties that diabetes brings. While children with diabetes are given diabetes care awareness, they also have fun and the camp participants are allowed to share their experiences with each other.
THE SUBJECT OF THE PROJECT
The “My Friend Diabetes” camp was first held in Iznik between 17-23 July 2016, in cooperation with Koç University Hospital Pediatric Endocrine and Diabetes Clinic and the Foundation for Children with Diabetes. Diabetes Camp, which has been held since 1997, has been held at Iznik DSI Training Facilities, with the President of Children with Diabetes Foundation and Head of the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity at Koç University Hospital, Prof. Dr. Şükrü Hatun and Assoc. Prof. Gül Yeşiltepe Mutlu, and Assoc. Prof. Mehmet, one of the doctors of Diyarbakır Training and Research Hospital. Under the leadership of Nuri Özbek, it brought together 80 children with diabetes from different provinces of Türkiye. In the "My Friend Diabetes" camp, information was given to groups divided by age on "General Approach to Diabetes Treatment", "Being at Peace with Diabetes and Coping", "Type 1 Diabetes and Exercise", "Adjusting Insulin Doses", "Hyperglycemia and Ketonemia Management at Home" experiences are shared. It is aimed to make the training permanent by putting it into practice with kitchen workshops, group work, games and competitions. In addition to these trainings, various sports, entertainment and art activities, especially swimming, are also included.
PROJECT GROUP
Prof. Dr. Şükrü Hatun and Assoc. Prof. Gül Yeşiltepe Mutlu
STAKEHOLDERS OF THE PROJECT
Foundation for Children with Diabetes (Diyacev) & Stars of the Future
ACTIVE DURATION / STATUS OF THE PROJEC
"My Friend Diabetes” camp has been active since 2016. In 2020, with the Covid-19 pandemic, the camp continued in an "online" environment.
- In the "My Friend Diabetes Online Camp 2020", which was held "online" for a week in August 2020 under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Şükrü Hatun, Head of the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity, a 28-hour live broadcast was broadcast with the participation of 79 speakers.
- In the "My Friend Diabetes Online Camp 2021" held via Instagram and Zoom between 29 August and 3 September 2021, the emotions, thoughts and experiences accumulated in the Iznik, Diyarbakır and Uludağ "My Friend Diabetes" camps were effectively shared throughout the country; 90 people served as moderators and speakers.
- The third of the "My Friend Diabetes" camp was held in Uludağ between 19-21 August 2022. A total of 163 people from different provinces of our country, including 43 families (70 parents), 43 children with diabetes, 19 siblings without diabetes, 16 team members (7 of whom have Type 1 diabetes), and 15 coaches, participated in the camp.
THE COMMUNITY TARGETED IN THE PROJECT
Children, young people and their families with Type 1 Diabetes
COMMUNITY'S NEEDS MEET
Information and training were shared with children and young people with Type 1 diabetes attending the camp to help them minimize the difficulties and concerns of life with diabetes. Children with diabetes were supported to come together, share their experiences with each other and establish lasting friendships. Children with diabetes were given diabetes care awareness and shared activities helped them feel less alone.
WHAT RESULT DID THE PROJECT GIVE? / WHAT DID HE ACHIEVE?
The “My Friend Diabetes” camp aims to provide all children with diabetes in Türkiye with the right diabetes management, in line with the natural flow of life and personal preferences, where life experiences with diabetes are supported by the most up-to-date information, and thousands of people have been reached at the end of each camp. At the same time, children with diabetes have been helped to feel less alone by minimizing the difficulties and anxieties brought by diabetes, and by doing common activities that raise diabetes care awareness. Awareness was created that "it is possible to live a normal and successful life" through unifying practices such as sports, art, kitchen workshops, etc. held in the camp..
IN WHICH OUR INSTITUTIONS IS THE PROJECT CARRIED OUT?
“My Friend Diabetes” project continues at Koç University Hospital.