Diabetes Marathons Educate and Entertain Children, Parents

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Riza Caparros, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) hosted 216 juvenile diabetics who learned about best practices to deal with and manage diabetes Aug. 11.

The three-hour educational opportunies were dubbed "Diabetes Marathons."

"We call it a marathon because we want our patients to realize that when you have diabetes, you have to do so many things in a period of a day: check blood sugar four to six times, take insulin and count your carbs. It's all day long, every day, every meal. And the patient needs endurance and diligence to take care of the disease, just like when you train for a marathon."

The "marathons" are tailored to the diabetics cared for through the medical center and, dedicated to not only update the children's school health plan, but also to remind attendees of the important life skills needed to manage the disease.

"For the past five years, every year at this time before school starts, we have arranged this event," said Maj. Eric Sherman, NMCP staff pediatric endocrinologist.

Our goal is to get diabetic children together so they can see they are not alone, said Linda Gottlick, certified diabetes educator for the Pediatric Department.

"We want them to realize that having the disease is not life-ending, and we are here to teach them what the need to know to manage their disease at home and at school."

A morning and afternoon "marathon" will also be held Aug. 20, providing families of all 216 children several opportunities to participate. During each marathon, time is set aside to bring children to the gym so they can learn of the importance of exercise, to the podiatry clinic so they can learn about proper care for their feet, and to the Navy Exchange so they can learn to identify snack foods with an acceptable amount of carbohydrates in them.

This is very helpful, said Sherri Sammons. She was at the event with her 8-year-old son, Seth, who was diagnosed with diabetes when he was four.

"They have a lot to deal with, and the staff here is helping to make it fun, so hopefully he will continue to see his disease not so much as a bad thing, but just a part of life," said Sammons.

"That is exactly the goal that we are setting out to accomplish," said Sherman. "We want to keep the children engaged and take ownership of their disease, regardless of their age. And we also want to encourage family members to remain supportive and just as diligent."

Patricia Peters, social worker for the Director of Quality Management, led one team of children through the marathon. She led "Team Triumph" to the gymnasium to learn about the importance of exercise.

"It is vitally important that they are aware of this part of managing their disease, and the great thing is, today they are learning this in a fun, interactive way," Peters said.

"Diabetes is not something you can put on the backburner," Sammons added.

"It's really a full-time job, but he really won't have many limitations. He can still play and run and live like every other child."

The event was a success, according to Stazia Davis, 12, an attendee who was diagnosed with diabetes in 2009. "I thought going to the exchange and picking out snack foods was fun," she said. "I am not really good at paying attention to my carbs, and this helped me understand why it is so important that I remember to do that."

Since diabetics must monitor their blood sugar throughout the day, the marathon also provides the young patients with the skills needed to address other kids' curiosity and questions.

Of the 216 juvenile diabetic patients the medical center treats, 67 are between 10 and 15 years old – the largest age group. The children are patients of NMCP, its branch clinics and Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Va.