Over the summer I attended a Children with Diabetes Conference (CWD). On the weekend of the 14 to16 August, I attended the first ever UK one in Windsor.
The people who attended were from all over the world we had people from the UK, US and other european countries.
At the event there were many with Type 1 diabetes, from people who controlled it using one injection to people who used insulin pumps.
Windsor weekend
The conference started on the Friday where I spent time going around exhibitions for different products from 'glucojuice' to insulin pumps to charities like JDRF. The following morning, everyone split up into their groups. I was in the teens as I am 16. That day we spent making friendships, discussing problems that we face with our diabetes and listening to speakers.
Low dance
That evening, as a teen, I got to go to a special dance and as I had made many friends that day, it was really enjoyable and I have many memories from that night.
While at that disco, to my utter amazement, after dropping my basal rates my blood went low, but unlike any other disco I had been to before, there were other people who were having the same problems as me so it made me feel really assured.
Keeping in touch
The next day was our last. I was so not looking forward to it and I never wanted it to end as it felt like I had known these people forever, but still the day went ahead we had planning meetings and more disscussion groups in the morning, and in the afternoon we went on a trip into Windsor as a whole group. We had time to explore but mainly my group of new friends (Adam, Beth, Elli, Racheal) were more concerned with talking as we knew our time together would soon be up. We decided the best idea was to sign each others' t-shirts and exchange email, mobile and facebook details.
I really enjoyed having this opportunity as in rural Wales I don't know of anybody with the same condition in my area (who is the same age) and this gave me an opportunity to compare experiences and make new friends (who I am still in regular daily contact with). It also means, if I have a problem, I have a friend of the same age to turn to.
Fun but not funded
The only thing with this weekend was that it cost a lot of money. We originally applied for funding from our local health board but they said it didnt meet the right criteria. I feel this is wrong as I know we have a chronic illness and need our medication (testers etc), which cost the goverment, but we also need a good quality of life and a good support system. Seeing as my diabetic clinic does not have a group where young people my age can get together and meet up, I think that this is a good substitution and that the council's decision was wrong.
Recommended
I would recommend this opportunity to everyone with Type 1. However long you have had it doesn't matter because everyone would get something out of it from finding out information to making friends.
I am planning on going next year and the volunteers who run it, especially Natalie, are so lovely. They have a good attitude towards diabetes and make you feel sort of glad about having it to get these opportunites.
Your comments
Diabetes UK run support holidays and family weekends which are great for meeting new friends and finding support like Chloe did. You can find out more about them here.
- My life