y o u r d i a b e t i c c h i l d r e n ’ s f o u n d at i o n p u b l i c at i o n / f r e d

suMMer 2016Volume 41, Issue 4

Diabete-enfants.ca

Yo u r D i a b e t i c c h i l D r e n ’ s Fo u n Dat i o n /F r e D

ContaCtD JUne 2016 Vol. 41, IssUe 4Published by the Diabetic children’s Foundation/FreD

306 st. Zotique street e., suite 10 Montreal (Quebec) h2s 1l6 Phone: 514-731-9683 or 1-800-731-9683 Fax: 514-731-2683 Writing: DcF team Printing: Falcon translation and Proofreading: Juliana braveza/Danielle Gauthier canadian Publications Mail agreement #40050215 legal Deposit: bibliothèque nationale du Québec

DIaBEtIC CHILDREn’S FoUnDatIon/FRED tEaMDanielle D. Brien, executive Director dbrien@diabete-enfants.ca

Gaby Boucher, Director - Fundraising gboucher@diabete-enfants.ca

Janie Lépine-Bédard, Project coordinator jbédard@diabete-enfants.ca

tatiana Donet, accounting tdonet@diabete-enfants.ca

Ginette Vigneux, administrative coordinator gvigneux@diabete-enfants.ca

Juliana Braveza, secretary/receptionist jbraveza@diabete-enfants.ca

CaMP CaRoWanIS tEaMDanielle D. Brien, executive Director François Caron-Melançon, camp DirectorJanie Lépine-Bédard, administrative Director andréane Vanasse, head nurse

DCF/FRED Board of DirectorsThE ExECuTivEMarcel Proulx – President of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Fundraising Committee Pharmacist-Owner, Jean Coutu Group

André G. Plourde Senior Vice-president (Québec) Colliers International

Patrice Vézina, FPAA, CRM – Vice-President President and CEO, Vézina Assurances

Jean-Charles Angers – Secretary and Treasurer Executive Director, RBC Capital Markets Real Estate Group

ADminisTRAToRsStéphane Arsenault – Chair of the Nomination Committee Arsenault Lemay Arpenteurs-Géomètres

Patricia Curadeau Grou

Luc de Laboursodière – Board member President, UltiMM Real Estate

Michel Lacasse – Adm. A. CMC VP Business Development, AXON

Philippe Grubert – CPA, CA Partner-in-Charge, Audit, KPMG

Charles Porteous – Chair of the Communications and Marketing Committee President, Seefeld Marketing International

honoRARy mEmBERsMimi M. Belmonte, M.D. Honorary President

Harvey J. Guyda, M.D. Past President

Sylvia Cruess, M.D. Past Vice-President

Alan J. Turner Honorary President

Advertisements or services offered in this publication should not be construed as an endorsement by The Diabetic Children’s Foundation. Reproduction is prohibited without prior permission from the publisher.

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ContentA Word from dAnielle ............................ 4

You Were there ...........................................5

this summer At CAmp .................................6

fAmilY ................................................................9

Volunteering .............................................10

get moVing .................................................... 11

donAting ....................................................... 12

CAlendAr ......................................................14

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We have solely updated its image to better reflect our daily reality. The Diabetic Children’s Foundation prevails because our commitment to the well-being of children and families living with diabetes remains at the heart of our concerns. Concerns that have grown over the years and require additional resources, such as: constant updating of technolo-gies, which require instruction and training; bridging distances and breaking isolation through networking as well as parents’ expectations of those who care for our diabetic children at daycare, in school and in sports, to name but a few. Another major concern is maintaining our policy of welcoming all diabetic children in Quebec who wish to go to Camp Carowanis and enjoy a wonderful stay filled with outdoor activities, sports, games and good friends – in a safe environment.

FRED is there for you, as you will see in the following pages, and always ready to help our children and families.

On behalf of the whole team, we wish you a relaxing, enjoyable, fun-filled summer.

Danielle……… and FRED Danielle D. Brien Executive Director Camp Carowanis and The Diabetic Children’s Foundation

Our friend has grown up… and becomes FRED

The logo of the Diabetic Children’s Foundation has been revamped. The stylized pictogram of a child ready to take on the challenges of diabetes, represented by the D shape, is now over thirty years old. The brainchild of the Parents’ Committee at the time, coordinated by Lucille G. Gauthier, the original logo has come a long way and been a great success.

In keeping with the times, the Diabetic Children’s Foundation has since expanded its “toolbox” in an effort to highlight the importance of contact, communication and mutual aid, for which it is known. Hence:

FREDLa Fondation, les Ressources pour les Enfants Diabétiques

A WORD FROM DANIELLEDanielle Brien, Executive Director

+ RessouRces

=

In spite of the cold, the Foundation’s Sweet People team eagerly ran and walked in the 2016 Sco-tiabank Group Charity Challenge at Jean-Drap-eau Park. What heart, dedication, generosity and fun! Thanks to all those who helped us raise $50,448.44!

SCOTIABANK GROUP CHARITY CHALLENGE – APRIL 24

McHappy Day was held at the McDonald’s outlets in Plaza St-Hubert and on Rosemont Blvd. in Montreal in support of FRED, as well as that of Ste-Agathe-des-Monts in aid of Camp Carowanis. This annual event organized by McDon-ald’s raised $2,640.25 in Montreal and $5,191 in Ste-Agathe. This money will cover part of Camp Carowanis’ Family Weekend operating costs. We would like to thank everyone who came out to support us!

MC HAPPY DAY – MAY 4

Seventy families, or more than 200 people, attended the seminars and enjoyed the exhibits at the Montreal Sci-ence Centre during the fifth annual Family Symposium. Thanks again to all participants, speakers and our part-ners for making this event such a success.

FAMILY SYMPOSIUM – APRIL 9

More than thirty families, some twenty camp counsel-lors and a dozen volunteers from Telus showed up at the second annual Camp Carowanis Family Clean-Up Day. Together, they painted, cleaned up, built tent platforms, set up activities boards, and so on. The day ended with a swim in Lake Didi and a barbecue. Thank you, one and all!

FAMILY CLEAN-UP DAY – JUNE 4

you were there

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this summer at camp

There is still time to register for the family weekend! Take a look at some of our activities:

- Workshop with Justin and Maude Vézina, who will talk about the challenges they faced while climbing Mount Kilimandjaro in 2015.

- Workshop with Frédéric Lauzon about all the tax credits available to parents of diabetic children.

- Workshop with a nutritionist discussing various carb-counting apps.

And, of course, opportunities to talk, exchange ideas and have fun!

FAMILYWEEKENDDanielle Brien asked me to introduce myself as the new

director of Camp Carowanis. Hmm, where should I be-gin? First, I have been on the job for five weeks and, so far, I am delighted to have accepted this new challenge.

Let’s start with my job experience. I have held a num-ber of management and development positions in both small and large companies. Having an entrepreneurial spirit, I also started my own company, a great experience that lasted two years. I have also worked with kids for two non-profit organizations: Écomaris and Quebec YMCAs.

What’s more, I have long been involved with the Boy Scouts. I was first a Cub Scout, then a Boy Scout, then a Venturer Scout, and subsequently spent eight years as a Cubmaster (9- to 12–year-old boys). For the last two years, I have served as Scoutmaster. Trust me, I know all about camping! I know what a character-building experi-ence it is for both kids and grownups. At camp, we learn about teamwork, mutual aid, living in nature; we step out of our comfort zone, surprise ourselves – in short, we surpass ourselves!

When I was offered the position of camp director, I knew it would make me happy. I have a confession to make, though: I am not diabetic. However, I deal with Type 1 diabetes every day, since my girlfriend was diagnosed in August 1995.

I may not know everything about this disease, but I hum-bly offer my services to the camp, campers and counsel-lors, most of whom live with Type 1 diabetes. Campers are my heroes. Their parents are fighters. Counsellors, for whom the camp did so much, now give back with love and dedication. I have a great deal of respect for each and every one of them.

A NEW DIRECTOR

I also know that the camp, founded in 1958, has its his-tory and traditions. I don’t know very much about them and have a lot to learn, but fortunately I can count on camp enthusiasts to share its customs with me. Thank you all (especially Shamane) for welcoming me into this “tribe.”

Last but not least, I would like to announce that I have chosen a camp name that is a nod to my days as a Cub-master: Baloo. In The Jungle Book, he is the bear that takes care of Mowgli. Like Baloo, rest assured that I will always put the children first. As we learn in the Cub Scouts, I promise to do my best as Camp Director.

Looking forward to seeing you at Camp Carowanis this summer… or while I hibernate from autumn to spring, you can always drop by the FRED office on St-Zotique Street!

Let the adventure begin!

François

Dates: Friday, August 19, to Sunday, August 21, 2016 Registration fee: $70 Accommodation fees: age 0-12: $55 - 12 and over: $140 Registration deadline: July 30, 2016

Partners:

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FamILy

LIvING WITH T1D AND ADHDJanie Lépine-Bédard

A diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes is never easy for parents, but when a second diagnosis, like that of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), is added to the mix, a family must learn to cope with this new reality. Here is the story of one such family: Geneviève and her daughter Rebecca.

GeneVIÈVe

On top of being diagnosed with diabetes at the age of two, Rebecca was diagnosed with ADHD when she was six years old. This second diagnosis required further ad-justment.

ADHD affects approximately 5-8% of children and its causes remain unknown. ADHD is character-ized by an inability to adapt to certain situations, to stay focused, especially at school or when distract-ed. It affects children’s daily lives in many ways, be it with homework, studying for exams or such tasks as doing the dishes. ADHD is a neurological condition. It is said “he presents with ADHD,” “she has been diagnosed with ADHD,” “I have ADHD”.

One of the challenges we face is difficulty in focusing on daily tasks. Waking up, getting ready for school, dinner-time and bedtime can all be hard to manage. What’s more, attention deficit disorder has a significant impact on Rebecca’s ability to be diligent about checking her glucose levels, counting carbohydrates and taking her insulin.

We must also contend with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), impulsiveness as well as hyperactivity. These be-havioral issues can often be confused with signs of hypo- or hyperglycemia, which can further complicate matters. Monitoring Rebecca’s blood-sugar levels more frequent-ly is the only way to determine whether these issues are a result of hypoglycemia or ADHD.

Even though Rebecca is being treated for ADHD, some days are harder than others. Indeed, medication can help with day-to-day life, but also has side effects, including loss of appetite. Eating when the sight of food makes you nauseous isn’t easy, especially as a diabetic. Rebecca must therefore consume a minimum of carbo-hydrates in order to avoid hypoglycemia and to make it through the day. By late evening, when the medication has worn off, her appetite returns. Adjustments must constantly be made in order for Rebecca to avoid the risk of hypoglycemia or eating a full late-evening meal.

ADHD significantly affects diabetes, and vice-versa. When Rebecca’s blood-sugar level is high, her ADHD is more pronounced and she becomes more irritable, which makes her more confrontational. Managing dia-betes is therefore key.

According to Dr. Annick Vincent, it is vital to follow a regu-lar routine, to exercise and to eat and sleep well in order to help counter the effects of ADHD.

We therefore encourage Rebecca to be physically active and burn off excess energy. We have also established a routine and provided structure to help minimize the negative effects of diabetes and ADHD. Of course, some days are easier than others, but our efforts are clearly bearing fruit, which encourages us to keep at it!

meDICaL PoInt oF VIeW - CéLIne PICarD, CLInICaL PsyChoLoGIst at the Chu saInte-JustIne DIabetes CLInIC.

Obviously, the combination of chronic health problems can be quite challenging! Besides the academic aspect, what is most important is ensuring the best-possible gly-cemic control, as hypo- or hyperglycemia are parents’ and doctors’ topmost concern.

Unfortunately, ADHD medication suppresses appetite. Parents must therefore regularly check in with their pedi-atric endocrinologist to make sure their child follows a proper diet and maintains healthy weight gain in order to ensure proper development, The good news is, appetite generally improves eventually. Parents are also advised to establish a regular meal schedule and make sure their child eats a little something, even if they are not hungry, to stabilize blood-sugar levels.

Furthermore, parents must have realistic expectations when it comes to their child’s level of independence. Routine provides a sense of structure that helps children manage both their diabetes and ADHD, but one must keep in mind that every child develops at his or her own pace and they may not be “there yet” even if other chil-dren are.

a FeW tIPs:

- Find a way to make tasks part of your child’s daily routine. For example, checking his/her blood- sugar level first thing in the morning.

- Anticipate any difficulties and adjust the child’s routine accordingly. For example, determine the best time for homework.

- Exercise regularly.

- Try new routines if necessary. It may take time to find one that works for both children and parents.

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What are the daily challenges of diabetes?I would say the biggest challenge is diet. As a full-time student and athlete, I have a busy schedule, which means I have to be very disciplined about my diet. I make sure I eat well at mealtimes as well as before and after practice. And of course, I always remember to snack! Snacking became a habit at camp. The self-discipline I developed over the years has really helped me manage my diet, my diabetes and my athletic performance.

Many young people would have given up sports after being diagnosed with diabetes. What made you perse-vere and come this far?

I owe part of that to my mother, who often told me: “Hav-ing diabetes does not prevent you from doing anything you want. You can lead a normal life as long as you take care of yourself.” Once I understood that, I opened my-self to the world and the possibilities around me. My long love affair with basketball led me to play for many of the top teams. If you want to go far, you must love what you do, go for broke and learn from every experience, wheth-er good or bad.

What is your biggest dream?To become a statistician for a diabetes research com-pany. I would like to use my experience as a camper, a student and a basketball player to help create a better life for diabetics. I dream of making a difference in the lives of those living with diabetes, as others have done for me: doctors, nurses, the camp director, campers, counsellors and countless others.

Here is the story of Jonathan Mirambeau, a diabetic since 2005 and former Camp Carowanis camper now studying Applied Social Statistics and playing basket-ball for the Stingers at Concordia University.

What do you remember of your diagnosis and the aftermath?I remember heading to my grandmother’s place and not feeling well. Actually, I had to call her from a payphone to ask her to pick me up. When she saw the state I was in, she called my mother, who took me to a clinic. There, I was quickly diagnosed with diabetes and my mother was told to rush me to Ste-Justine Hospital. I think my mom got from Saint-Laurent to the hospital in all of sev-en minutes!

The diagnosis was then confirmed. It took me a while to understand the seriousness of the situation. Fortun-ately, the doctor and my mother took the time to explain how this disease would affect my day-to-day life and, above all, how lucky I was that this chronic disease was manageable. In the following days, I started exploring a whole new world: life with diabetes.

As you might suspect, spring cleaning at Camp Caro-wanis is a major undertaking. For the past few years, we have relied on an extraordinary ally: the Lions Club. Indeed, their “friendship arch” graces the entrance to the camp.

On May 14, some thirty members of the Lachute Lions Club picked up chain saws and cut down fifty-odd dead trees at the camp and make logs.

On May 28, we welcomed some forty volunteers from Lions Club, District U-1 (western Quebec). On the agen-da: cleaning the dining room, the laundry room and the Ross Hall kitchen from top to bottom, as well as both

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLEJanie Lépine-Bédard

LIONS CLUB CLEAN-UP DAYSFrançois Caron-Melançon

Get moving! “Having diabetes does not prevent you from doing anything you want. You can lead a normal life as long as you take care of yourself.”

VoLunteerInG infirmaries, and wood chopping. A day of high spirits – and mosquitoes!

It should also be noted that over the course of those two days, a team fully renovated one of the two bathrooms at the Belmonte Infirmary.

We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks to Mr. André Gauthier, head of the Lions Club District U-1 Carowanis Committee, for his leadership, his commitment and for mobilizing his troops every year to make these two days a resounding success.

Thank you, Lions, for all your help and outstanding work!

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onatInG

Donating a mere $10 a month can make a big difference for a diabetic child or teen, offering them an amazing experience at Camp Carowanis, among others....

Being a “Friend of FRED” also means supporting us in helping FRED member families and children in concrete ways. How? Your donation will go towards networking activities such as our Let’s talk over coffee Series or our Holiday Party, offering families support by phone or email and finding new ways to support you year-round. An easy way to give a friend a helping hand!

Become a “Friend of Fred” today:

• Call us at: (1-800) or (514) 731-9683• Visit our website at: https://www.diabetes-children.

ca/en/donate/monthly-donations/• Complete the reply slip below and mail it back to us

Join the “Friend of Fred” program before September 15 for a chance to win a 2016 Nissan Rogue (or $25,000 cash)*

*A free Foundation raffle ticket will be sent to you (see raffle rules on our website).

(A single consolidated tax receipt will be issued to you at the end of the year.)

Because Fred supports me all

year round...BECOME A “FRIEND OF FRED”JoIn the monthLy DonatIon ProGram: beCause a FrIenD Is aLWays there For you

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2016 Let’s taLk oVer CoFFee serIesWednesday, September 14, 5:30 p.m.St-Hubert Rotisseries3325 Saint-Martin Boulevard W., Laval

Pasta oPera DInner shoW September 20, 2016, 6 p.m.Rialto Theatre5723 Parc Avenue, MontrealInformation and reservations at info@diabete-enfants.ca

ANNUAL RAFFLEThe annual raffle will take place November 14, World Diabetes Day.More details in the coming weeks.

UPCOMING ACTIvITIES

CaLenDar