So, our hospital kept mentioning about a diabetes camp. There are several around and the hospital along with at that time it was Juvenile Diabetes Canada offers 2 weeks away for the kids to be kids. I was a single mom and couldn’t really afford it. Apparently with a small donation/contribution there is funding available to send kids who cannot afford it to Summer Camp.
My son was about 12 by this time. Feeling isolated and like a bit of a freak with his constant finger pokes and carb counting (no one else at school was doing it) I actually thought it might be a great idea. He can meet other kids his own age and who are the same as he is.
I might know what happens at a low blood sugar but I will never know ‘how he feels’ like another person with the same disease. He was not on board but I sent him anyways.
I was not allowed to talk to him during those two weeks. I could send an email or a letter but no phones. That was a tough time for me…but he was surrounded by volunteer doctors and nurses with 24/7 care. There were programs and meals – education on carb counting and all sorts of sports.
I checked my mail on a very regular basis and found two letters from my son and read them in order written (by chance). The first letter tells me ‘I hate this place,’ ‘come and pick me up as early as you can on Friday’ (the day he was coming home). I thought, What have I done? I forced him to go to this camp.
I began regretting my decision until I opened up the next letter.
The next letter says, ‘that he may have been too hasty in his opinions’ of the place. He had made friends and found archery and a track’ and that ‘it wasn’t bad afterall’. 
All of the campers and staff were just like him. They all kept in touch for years; travelling as a pack to go to his place or her place to spend the weekends. He eventually became a camp counselor for the same organization. We never looked back! He had found his community.
The Diabetes Canada runs these camps every summer (D-Camps) in many locations. They recruit from all over the world to work there. Kids of all ages are attending at the same time. There are of course boys cabins and girls cabins. A counselor stays with them 24/7. They do things in a buddy system so that you are never alone.
The doctors and nurses are all volunteers. All completely professional. There is training, sports and campfires where they make long lasting relationships with people just like them. I highly recommend sending your child to one of these camps just for the experience of realizing that they are NOT alone.