Diabetes Youth Conference 2008

The 2008 Conference was held in New Plymouth on Saturday 10 May and Sunday 11 May.

The Conference was a huge success, and the DYNZ committee would like to thank all those who attended, presented, sponsored or helped to organise the weekend.

Photos

We have uploaded some photos from the weekend:

If you have any photos that you'd like to share, please email them to Hayden Vink (contact@diabetesyouth.org.nz).

Presentations

Here are some of the presentations that were given at the conference:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members Page

This is the members page, you can change this text at any time through the Admin Control Panel.

We are having a sausage sizzle next week . . grin

Diabetes Youth Conference 2009

Invitation

Following the success of last year's conference, Diabetes Youth NZ (DYNZ) is pleased to invite you to attend our 2009 Conference and Annual General Meeting.

The Conference is to be held at the Rutherford Hotel, Nelson on Friday, 21 August 2009 through to Sunday, 23 August 2009. The middle of August may not seem not an ideal time but if it is going to be sunny anywhere in New Zealand in August, it WILL be Nelson.

We begin on Friday August 21st with our Annual General Meeting at 7pm. On Saturday we have a later start to allow visitors to experience the creative experience that is Nelsons Saturday Market.

The broad theme of the conference is "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow." Many of the topics in our programme are a response to requests from attendees at our last conference. Others are reports on what's happening in the diabetes world currently. Please download the programme below for more information.

We have kept registration to a minimum to allow families to attend -$150 individual and $250 family with those registering early going in to the draw to have an individual registration refunded. Once again, we will have child care available. We especially welcome attendance by adults with Type 1 who have been there, done that. You are the inspiration that our young people (and their parents) need.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Diabetes Youth NZ Inc is a voluntary society established to provide support for children with diabetes and their families.

Diabetes Youth New Zealand (DYNZ) was established 12 years ago and is affiliated to Diabetes New Zealand. There are networks of youth support groups located throughout New Zealand that assist DYNZ to provide support. DYNZ also provides:

Advocacy

DYNZ advocates on behalf of all young people with diabetes. Recent projects have included submissions to Pharmac for medication supply and subsidies (Lantus and Blood Ketone Strips) and involvement with the Ministry of Education for school health guidelines.

Resources

We provide a parent's manual; Caring for Children and Adolescents and a Diabetes Information School Flip Chart. These manuals are now included in all newly diagnosed packs that are distributed throughout the country but are also available to purchase at a very reasonable cost.

Achievement Awards

The John McLaren Award for Excellence is a joint venture between Diabetes Youth New Zealand and Diabetes New Zealand from a bequest from John McLaren to be used for the youth of New Zealand with diabetes. There are four achievers annually: each receiving a one-off amount of $1,000.

John McLaren Award for Excellence application form 2009 (PDF, 306KB)

Christchurch teens with diabetes at Wainui camp in early 2007

Support

The diabetes youth groups located throughout the country assist us in providing the support needed to enhance the lives of young people with diabetes. Diabetes Camps and the wide range of activities organised by these groups are a great place for young people with diabetes to meet others.

Support Us

There are a number of ways you can help us support children and young people with diabetes, and their families:

Make a donation

You can make a one-off donation online now using your credit card. It’s secure and easy - just follow the link below:

Donate now using your credit card.

Donations are tax deductible for individuals and certain companies. Please contact us if you would like to set up a regular donation, or make a donation by bank transfer.

Organise or participate in an event, and donate the proceeds to Diabetes Youth New Zealand

We’ve registered with Fundraise Online, so now there’s a simple and effective way for you to help your favourite charity whilst you train for and complete your event. You can create your own free fundraising web page complete with secure credit card donation processing facilities. Best of all you don’t have any messy forms to handle and all the money you collect is paid directly to us. Upload your own photos, keep a Blog, email your friends your web page address, then watch as your supporters donate to us - all from the comfort of your own PC. It’s simple.

Create your fundraising page now.

Volunteer, or join one of our committees

As a voluntary organisation, we rely on volunteers to help with everything, including: fundraising, organising and attending camps and activities, advocacy, marketing, administration, and more! If you’d like to volunteer your time or services, please contact us.

About diabetes.

There are about 2,500 children and youth aged 0-18 living with Type 1 diabetes in New Zealand and over 200 with Type 2.

New Zealand has one of the highest rates of paediatric diabetes in the world, and numbers are estimated to be growing at 10% annually. The cause is not yet understood.

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented or cured. It is an auto-immune disease in which the body’s immune system destroys its own insulin-producing cells. It is a condition that has been documented for centuries, and it can occur in babies as young as six weeks old and in young adults in their 20s or even later, although the most common age of diagnosis is among school-age children.

Prior to the discovery of insulin, Type 1 diabetes was fatal. Ironically, the insulin injections that keep these young people alive can also be fatal if the wrong dose is given. Insulin injections must be given at least twice to four times daily, and the dose calculated each time on the basis of the youth’s blood sugar levels, appetite and expected level of exercise. Blood tests must be undertaken up to six or more times per day to manage the condition properly so the youth remains healthy. Managing type 1 diabetes requires constant attention to balancing a good diet and exercise with the insulin injections required to replace the insulin the body is unable to produce. The management routine is stressful and relentless, and it can lead to medical complications in later years if not followed rigorously.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes has a different genetic basis from Type 1 and its onset can be accelerated by lifestyle factors. The diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes in children is a new and worrying trend. Once diagnosed, the condition must also be managed carefully and a healthy lifestyle adopted to avoid later complications.

With the right support, young people with diabetes grow up learning to take remarkable responsibility for their health and well-being, but they need the support of their families, schools and wider community around them.

Visit our Links page for more information and resources online.