Diabetes Training camp will not only give you the tools you need to live successfully with diabetes, but the tools you need to live OPTIMALLY with diabetes!  In order to live optimally with diabetes, not only do you need to address your physical needs, but your emotional, social, and psychological needs as well.  Here are some of the workshops you will have the opportunity to attend at camp that address the impact of stress and introduce coping skills necessary for living optimally with diabetes:

Dealing with Stress: The Mind

There is no life without stress; it is part of the human condition.  In this workshop you will explore how stress can impact your blood sugar and your diabetes management.  You are what you think!  Here we focus on cognitive coping skills for managing stress and becoming aware of the thoughts you feed yourself and how they can hold you back from reaching your potential.

Dealing with Stress: The Body

First take a big, deep breath… and then exhale and read the next sentence: In this workshop you will learn relaxation techniques to help manage the physiological symptoms of stress and anxiety.  You can’t perform optimally if you are tense!  Here you will learn how to relax your body as well as relax your expectations of maintaining “perfect” control of your diabetes.

Building a Team: Your Support System

Let’s go Defense!!  Part of performing to your potential is having a good support system in place.  In this workshop you will take steps toward building up your “home team”.   Building this team also includes learning how to communicate with the key players on your team, including med staff, family, and friends.

Going Home: The Diabetes Rollercoaster

If we could only put camp in a bottle and send it home with you…  Now is the time to reflect on what you’ve learned and get prepared for putting it into action when you return home.  You will also explore how to define success as well as how to prepare for and deal with setbacks you will face along the road to living optimally with diabetes.

Individual Goal Setting Plans

In addition to the educational workshops on the psychological aspects of diabetes and fitness, you will also have the opportunity to meet with Carrie one-on-one to create your own individualized goal setting plan tailored to your specific diabetes and fitness goals.  You will learn effective strategies for setting and accomplishing goals and walk away from camp with a 1 month, 3 month, 6 month, and 1 year plan for achieving your goals.