Friends with Diabetes Support Group

“Together we can do anything”.

Sponsored by School Nurses of

Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Our Mission Statement

The mission of the “Friends with Diabetes Support Group” is to support and assist students with diabetes in Virginia Beach City Schools. All students who have diabetes are welcome. The intent is to help the student with diabetes achieve his/her highest level of physical and social well-being.

Goal

The goal of this support group is to reach, involve, and educate students with diabetes and to provide opportunities for them to learn to manage their diabetes so they can lead long, healthy, and productive lives.

Objectives

* To provide support for one another through group meetings and activities for the students with diabetes, their families, and their friends.

* To promote understanding of diabetes through knowledge.

* To present practical, useful, information about diabetes.

* To encourage independence and self-esteem through responsible self care.

* To improve self respect by learning more about diabetes.

Meetings

Group meetings are usually scheduled during the fourth Monday of each month, 7PM to 8:15PM, from September to June. Meetings are divided into four groups: pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, the fifth grade through twelfth grade, a parent group, and a sibling group.

The Group

Through participation in this activity, the students and their families will gain appreciation of others who also share this diagnosis.

With knowledge and understanding of diabetes, they can gain control of their diabetes instead of allowing diabetes to control them. Many topics are presented throughout the school year concerning diabetes.

Efforts are made to learn the needs of students through annual surveys and questionnaires.

The members support one another by sharing experiences, feelings, ideals and difficulties.

Health specialists provide education to the group regarding daily living with diabetes, the various delivery systems for medications, good nutrition, proper foot care, and healthy vision.

The year will be concluded with a picnic of celebration for the friendships we have formed. It is a time to reflect on the events of the past year.

In Summary

“Friends with Diabetes Support Group” offers a student many opportunities to grow, to mature through knowledge, to gain independence, and to acquire healthy lifelong habits. “Friends with Diabetes Support Group”, supports the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation each year by the participating in the “Walk To Cure”.

Meeting Address

Plaza Elementary School
641 Carriage Hill Road
Virginia Beach , Va. 23452

Contacts

Patsy Holmes , RN
Plaza Elementary School
757-431-4129

or

Jean Sinnott, RN
Tallwood Elementary School
757-502-0311