• Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Point Cook Star

27th January 2009 11:05:23 AM

Looking forward...Sporting the camp’s trademark tee-shirt, Taylor Barker has his fingers crossed for another Camp Diabetes experience next year. 26106

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WERRIBEE youngster Taylor Barker turned 12 at the weekend but the past year-and-a-half have been a rollercoster ride he never expected.

Back home after a week of fun and adventure with Camp Diabetes at the Anglesea YMCA, Taylor says he initially felt a bit daunted about going but is all the better from the experience.

“We went surfing, canoeing, we had a disco and we also went to the adventure park in Geelong,” Taylor said.

After the fun filled four-day camp Taylor came home with a special surprise for his parents Diane and Martin.

“He learnt how to do his own finger prick and administer his own insulin during the camp,” Mr Barker said.

The camp, attended by more than 60 children with Type 1 Diabetes, was organised by Camp Diabetes to encourage children to achieve independence through adventure.

Royal Children’s Hospital paediatrician Dr Matt Sabin said: “The camp gives the kids’ families a break and helps to empower the children to take responsibility for their own insulin injections.”

He said children can develop Type 1 diabetes at all ages and recent research into the disease had found that the occurrence of childhood diabetes was on the increase.

“From what we know childhood diabetes is caused by a combination or genetic and environmental factors which cause the body to destroy the pancreas gland.

“At the moment there is no cure but it can be effectively managed on a daily basis with insulin injections,” Dr Sabin said.

Camp Diabetes, which is held annually, gave Mr and Mrs Barker a break from the insulin routine that has become a part of their daily life since Taylor was diagnosed.

“We went out a bit and got some extra sleep, I’m usually up at six when Taylor needs to have his first dose,” Mr Barker said.

Diagnosed during school holidays in July 2007, Taylor’s diabetes is now controlled with injections of a combination of two types of insulin.

“The first thing I noticed before he was diagnosed was that he was tired and sleeping a lot, and he was very hungry and thirsty when he was awake.

“We took him to the local doctor and were told that Taylor must have caught a virus.

“When he didn’t improve I knew there was something seriously wrong so we took him in to the children’s hospital, ” Mrs Barker said.

It was just in time.

On arrival they were told that if that if Taylor had been left untreated he would have slipped into a coma.

“Taylor was only in overnight but the Royal Children’s Hospital staff were wonderful, ” Mr Barker said.

Taylor and other children with diabetes are often unable to attend school camps because staff need special diabetes training to cater for their needs.

Describing his Camp Diabetes experience as “awesome,” Taylor doesn’t feel like he is missing out on anything and is looking forward to starting high school at Galvin Park Secondary College.

He hopes to become a diabetes educator when he is older.

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