Sponsored by the School Nurses, Virginia Beach City Public Schools
Our Mission Statement
The mission of the Friends with Diabetes Support Group is to support and assist students with diabetes in Virginia Beach City Schools. All students who have diabetes are welcome. The intent is to help the student with diabetes achieve his/her highest level of physical, and social well-being.
Goal
The goal of this support group is to reach, involve and educate students with diabetes and to provide opportunities for them to learn to manage their diabetes so they may have long, healthy and productive lives.
Objectives
The objectives are:
- To provide support for one another through group meetings and activities for the students with diabetes, their families and their friends.
- To help all to understand diabetes through gaining knowledge of the disease.
- To present practical, useful information about diabetes.
- To encourage independence and self-esteem through responsible and safe care of oneself.
- To gain respect for oneself by learning about diabetes.
Meetings
Meetings will be the fourth Monday of each month from 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Each meeting has a sharing time with problem solving for both children and parents. New information is exchanged. Our sibling group meets for craft projects. Everyone is invited! For questions regarding the meetings please contact Kathryn Phillips, RN at 757.648.3487 or Sally Berry, RN at 757.648.3487.
Meeting Dates 2010-2011 |
|
| September 27, 2010 | Welcome & Introductions |
| October 25, 2010 | Dr. David Farmer (Optometrist) |
| November 22, 2010 | Michele Tryon (Center for Hope & Healing) |
| December 2010 | No Meeting |
| January 24, 2011 | “Take-away Taco Salad in a Bag” Demo by OLHS Students (Meeting @ Ocean Lakes High School) |
| February 28, 2011 | Dr. Scouten (Endocrinologist) and Linda Gotlick (Diabetes Educator) from Portsmouth Regional Medical Center (Meeting @ Woodstock Elementary School) |
| March 2011 | No Meeting |
| April 25, 2011 | TBA |
| May 2011 | No Meeting- picnic in June |
| June 6, 2011 | End of Year Picnic (Location to be determined) |
The Group
Through participation in this activity, the students and their families will gain appreciation and encouragement along with others who share this diagnosis.
With knowledge and under-standing of diabetes, they can gain control of their diabetes instead of diabetes controlling them. Many topics are present-ed throughout the school year concerning diabetes.
Efforts are made to learn the needs of students through annual surveys and questionnaires.
The members support one another by sharing experiences, feelings, ideals and difficulties.
Health specialists provide education to the group regarding daily living with diabetes, the various delivery systems for medications, good nutrition, proper foot care, and healthy vision.
“Friends with Diabetes Support Group”, supports the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation each year by the participating in the “Walk To Cure". This year's date will be October 11 at the Oceanfront at 9:00 a.m.
The year is concluded with a picnic of celebration for the friendships we have formed. It is a time to reflect on the events of the past year.
In Summary
Friends with Diabetes Support Group offers students many opportunities to grow, to mature through knowledge, to gain independence in their lives, and to acquire healthy lifelong habits.