Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/501957
www.SJAHS.org | CHI St. Joseph's Health 5 W hen Tia Kocka, Diabetes Educator at CHI St. Joseph's Health, first stepped into her role, she realized the nearest support group for kids and families affected by type 1 diabetes was nearly 90 miles away. Community interest in a local support group spanned from Bemidji to Wadena, leading Kocka to develop the D1 Kids Club. Featuring monthly meetings, the club offers a place for children, parents, friends, and other family members to share support and find unique ways to manage common challenges. A MEETING PLAYBYPLAY During each D1 Kids Club session, families come together for introductions and an activity. Past activities have included diabetes trivia games, healthy snack preparation, and a primer on smartphone apps and other technologies to help manage diabetes. In the future, Kocka also plans to add skiing, swimming, and celebrity guests to the roster. Following group activities, parents have an open discussion while kids play games designed to help them learn more about type 1 diabetes. "Families need to know they're not alone," Kocka says. "The D1 Kids Club allows kids to see that other children are having similar experiences and allows parents to discuss their feelings and work together to troubleshoot problems such as how to handle type 1 diabetes at school." For more information about the D1 Kids Club, contact Kockaat 218.255.3684 or TiaKocka@CatholicHealth.net. A Network of Support The D1 Kids Club at CHI St. Joseph's Health provides area children and families dealing with type 1 diabetes a fun forum for friendship and education. Join Us for D1 Kids Club! Who: Kids with type 1 diabetes and their friends and family members are welcome. No registration is required. Where: All meetings are held at CHI St. Joseph's Health in Lower Level Conference Rooms B and C. When: D1 Kids Club meets from 6 to 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month. Type 1 diabetes, often diagnosed during childhood, is much less common than the type 2 diabetes you may associate with adults. According to the American Diabetes Association, only 5 percent of Americans with diabetes have type 1. The condition occurs when the body doesn't produce the insulin needed to move sugar from the bloodstream into the body's cells, where it is used for fuel. Unlike type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes cannot be improved or reversed with lifestyle changes, and no cure exists. But thanks to insulin injections, children with type 1 diabetes can lead active, healthy lives. Examining Type 1 Diabetes