About 15 pediatric sufferers with diabetes have been at a teddy bear clinic hosted by the Juvenile Diabetes Analysis Basis and Spectrum Well being Helen DeVos Youngsters’s Hospital. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Carson Christians, 7, listened intently as he realized the best way to use a diabetes pump on his teddy bear. Nader Kasim, MD, pediatric endocrinology doctor at Helen DeVos Youngsters’s Hospital, guided him within the classes. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
“That is actually cool,” Carson stated. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Jason Hartman, 5, and his mom, Samantha, realized about injections and testing glucose ranges. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Every little one had a Rufus teddy bear to assist them be taught in regards to the administration of diabetes. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Macy Tousey, 11, holds her teddy bear, Rufus. She gave him enjoyable rainbow-patterned pants and a necklace. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Rufus the teddy bear had patches on his physique, too, to indicate the place pokes may occur. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Aniya Valind-Wright, 8, introduced her stuffed animal, Kitty. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Ayla Malkewitz, 5, learns about treating her diabetes. She was recognized on the age of 1. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Elanore Kengis, 10, sits with Rufus as she takes within the classes. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Registered dietitian Sara Koepke, RD, confirmed youngsters the best way to construct a wholesome plate by incorporating greens, fruit, grain and protein. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Every station highlighted a lesson on diabetes. The youngsters may play with their bears as they realized, empowering them to participate in their very own care. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
Jason learns about injections as he practices on Rufus. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
These in attendance acquired a bag that included toys, a teddy bear and video games. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
“The intention is for teenagers to have enjoyable,” Dr. Kasim stated. “Hopefully youngsters stroll away feeling extra snug about diabetes after studying a bit of about their situation. And hopefully they decide who they need to be with their diabetes.” (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
The clinic was a beautiful alternative for the youngsters to fulfill friends who face comparable challenges. (Taylor Ballek | Spectrum Well being Beat)
With a health care provider and his teddy bear, Rufus, by his facet, Carson Christians, 7, listened intently as his workforce confirmed him the best way to use a diabetes pump.
“That is actually cool,” he stated.
Carson and 15 different youngsters with diabetes attended a clinic Saturday morning at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital, the place they realized about managing the situation.
The occasion, hosted by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, offered a Rufus teddy bear to every little one, which helped information them by the teachings.
Docs and medical workforce members from the youngsters’s hospital labored one-on-one with the youngsters at quite a lot of studying stations.
The Rufus bears have been a giant hit.
As Rufus realized about his situation, the youngsters realized about theirs.
Rufus had patches on his physique to indicate the place pokes may occur. The youngsters additionally realized in regards to the units that relay necessary well being data to docs and care workforce members.
“The youngsters are having enjoyable and it’s nice for them to fulfill different youngsters who’ve diabetes,” Stacey, Carson’s mother, stated. “And to fulfill their docs exterior of an appointment is very nice, too.”
Every little one acquired a bag that included toys, a teddy bear and video games that will add a bit of enjoyable to classes about monitoring glucose ranges.
Helen DeVos Youngsters’s Hospital workforce members led the six completely different studying stations. The youngsters acquired a scorecard for collaborating at every station.
By morning’s finish, they have been all licensed as official Rufus caretakers, diplomas in hand.
The stations highlighted diabetes subjects and offered new methods to play with the teddy bears. It empowered the children to play a job in their very own care.
One station targeted on eating regimen and vitamin for individuals with diabetes. One other taught about expertise. Yet one more delved into the wonders of insulin pumps.
Nader Kasim, MD, pediatric endocrinology doctor at Helen DeVos Youngsters’s Hospital, led a session about expertise and diabetes. As he sat with the children, he defined how the varied units work.
“The intention is for teenagers to have enjoyable,” Dr. Kasim stated. “Hopefully youngsters stroll away feeling extra snug about diabetes after studying a bit of about their situation. And hopefully they decide who they need to be with their diabetes.”
Donna Eng, MD, with pediatric endocrinology on the youngsters’s hospital, taught households in regards to the results of sugar and candies, and the best way to management sugar once you’re on the go.
At one other station, registered dietitian Sara Koepke, RD, confirmed the kiddos the best way to construct a wholesome plate by incorporating loads of greens, fruits, grains and protein.
“At the moment, we’re studying about carb counting,” she stated. “It helps youngsters dose insulin and management their sugar. Find out how to stability your plate is essential for these youngsters.”
Macy Tousey, 11, realized about creating a correct plate.
“For essentially the most half, we’ve got this stuff at residence already,” Macy stated. “Strawberries and fruits are my favourite. And salad, too.”
Shelley Kengis and her daughter, Elanore, 10, have been excited to attend their first occasion on the subject of diabetes. Elanore had just lately been recognized in Could, so the data was nonetheless fairly new to her.
“It’s nice for the children to see their friends,” Shelley stated. “They’re all going by the identical struggles and points. It’s nice to convey them collectively and benefit from the time studying about their prognosis.”
