Support

Services

We provide a range of programs and services designed specifically to support people with type 1 diabetes. We want to help improve your knowledge and management of your condition and to reduce the impact of living with type 1 diabetes.

As a member of Diabetes SA you will benefit from the following:

type 1 diabetes E-Newsletter

If you have type 1 diabetes then you may be interested in our free type 1 e-Newsletter. It is full of the latest diabetes research, events and updates on news in the area of type 1 diabetes. If you would like to receive the type 1 e-newsletter, please subscribe.

Diabetes SA Kids Camps

Diabetes SA is proud to coordinate 2 camps each year.

The Kids Camp is dedicated to providing experiences for 40 children aged between 10 and 12 years with type 1 diabetes and the Teenage Camp provides experieice for 30 children between 13-16 years of age.  We are committed to fostering their transition toward independence by integrating the management of diabetes with social and life skills.  The children have the opportunity to participate in activities such as swimming, low ropes courses, challenge courses, flying fox, archery just to name a few! The Kids Camp is usually held in October or November each year, leaving on a Friday and returning on a Sunday. The Teenage Camp is a weekend away, meeting at the campsite on a Saturday morning and being picked up on a Sunday afternoon.

Camp registration of interest application forms are made available in August each year.  To find out further information, please call Diabetes SA on 1300 136 588 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click here to make a donation for the next camp.

Kids Activities

Diabetes SA provides a number of activities for children in varying age groups to participate in.  Not only does this assist the children in meeting others with diabetes and developing independence, it gives the parents the opportunity to speak to other parents.  We offer activities such as disco bowling, gymnastics activities and craft mornings. To find out further information, please visit our Kids & Teens page.

Diabetes SA Staff

At Diabetes SA our team of Health Care Professionals to assist you with managing your diabetes. Our Health Care Team are available from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday to answer your questions concerning your diabetes management.

Diabetes SA offers 1:1 Consultations with our Diabetes Educators. Please click here for more information.

Education sessions

Sessions throughout the year at Diabetes SA cover a wide range of topics relevant to people with type 1 diabetes.

• Living Well with type 1 diabetes
• Pumping – is it for me?
• Advanced Pumping
• Carbohydrate Counting – Basic and Advanced

Click here to view type 1 Education and Information Sessions.

Insulin Pump Information

Insulin pumps are an increasingly popular insulin delivery method used in the treatment of type 1 diabetes.  The insulin pumps are a small electronic device (a little bit bigger than a pager) which can help make living with diabetes easier.  It has the ability to continuously deliver insulin, through a needle which is inserted under the skin attached to a line which is connected to the insulin pump; the needle and line can stay in place for up to three days. Insulin pumps are worn 24 hours a day, but can be detached as required for swimming, showering and other activities.

For more information visit our page about Insulin Pump Consumables.

Resources

We have several publications specifically for type 1 diabetes. These include:

• Information sheets for carers (What is type 1?, Hypoglycaemia, Physical activity)
• Order booklets (including "Can I Have a Healthy Baby?")
• “GYST”, a DVD focussing on transition from paediatric to adult diabetes care
• Eating Disorders and diabetes information resource is an information booklet  that has been developed for people with type 1 diabetes, their families and friends to explain the different types of eating disorders and why people with type 1 diabetes may have a higher risk of developing an eating disorder
  
• type 1 Essentials: common questions made easy. A pocket-sized, fold-out information card for adults with type 1 diabetes to distribute to their friends, family and colleagues.

Support groups

Family Voices  

Family Voices meet bi-monthly at Diabetes SA. The group is united by common goals, as parents of children who have diabetes, bringing valuable skills, experiences and good networks to help generate positive outcomes. In addition we have professional representatives from various organisations that value our contribution and support our aims.

It is very encouraging to know that these pivotal organisations are committed to working with the families and children to further develop the support strategies to meet our children's needs.

Throughout 2009 Family Voices continued to address, express and advocate health needs for families living with Type 1 Diabetes in our community. Family Voices has the continued support from Children Youth and Women's Health Services (CYWHS), the Department of Education and Child Care Services (DECS), Diabetes SA, and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). These organisations welcome and encourage Family Voices to continue to share the views of the families and to express the areas that may need further support or need change in how they are managed.

Throughout 2009, Family Voices has worked alongside DECS working parties to ensure the health needs for children with Type 1 are supported and managed accordingly. DECS have engaged a children's forum and are putting together Fact Sheets highlighting frequent misconceptions and questions relating to Type 1 at school and amongst their peers.

Please contact Diabetes SA for meeting times on 8234 1977.