Children with Diabetes - A Regional Conference and Expo - April 13-15, 2007 - San Diego, CA
A Regional Conference and Expo
April 13-15, 2007
The San Diego Marriott La Jolla
San Diego, CA
Why Focus on Pumping?
Efficacy research has shown that using an insulin pump is one of the best ways to manage type 1 diabetes. At Children with Diabetes, many of our children (and parents) are pumpers already, while many more are simply curious about pumping, and still manage diabetes via multiple daily injections (MDI). It is our intent with this conference to offer basic pumping information to those people who are brand new to insulin pumps, and to offer more cutting-edge research information to those people who already know quite a bit about insulin pumps, perhaps wear one, and want to improve their diabetes management.
We hope that the Focus on Pumping conference will help you and your family gain a better understanding of how insulin pumps work, the current technology in pumps now available to people with diabetes, and the exciting new technology coming down the road both short and long-term. And we hope to motivate you to try a pump if you never have! Insulin pump companies will be on site providing saline pump starts to those who wish to wear a pump (or more than one) to experience what it feels like and how a pump works up close and personal. Please note that a physician's prescription is necessary for this, and details are available in the sidebar on this page.
Some very exciting faculty will be joining us! Pediatric endocrinologist Bruce Buckingham will open the conference with an exploration of "Why Pump Insulin?" and later in the conference will take a look into the future of pumping with a discussion of sensor technology and closed loop systems. Gary Scheiner, author of Think Like A Pancreas, will cover two areas of great concern to pumpers: Strike the Spike (Managing Post-Prandial Highs) and Preventing and Managing Hypoglycemia.
John Walsh, author of Pumping Insulin, a text considered one of the best overall resources for pumpers and now in its 4th edition, will present a session on The Basics of Pumping, which is a must for anyone considering switching from MDI to an insulin pump. Additionally, for those who have been pumping successfully for awhile and would like to address some of the more difficult or advanced concepts of pumping, John will offer a second session called Advanced Pumping Concepts.
Have you or your child thought about getting an insulin pump, but you are nervous about 'being attached to something every day, all day?' You're not alone. Are you afraid a younger child might play with the pump buttons or mistakenly bolus in the middle of the night? Afraid an infusion set will hurt or will fall out? These are all things that pumpers think about at first. Laura Billetdeaux, along with a panel of CWD kids and teen pumpers, will share their thoughts with you and answer your questions.
Confused by all the infusion sets on the market? What's the difference between a Quick-Set vs. an Inset vs. a Silhouette? And how do you know which one will work best for your child or yourself? Diabetes Educator Natalie Bellini can help you figure this out in a fun and hands-on session. She will also follow this session with some individual time (by appointment only) with you and your child to discuss infusion sets. Also, the pump companies will have their infusion sets available for you to look at and ask questions about -- it's a great opportunity to compare, gather information, and decide what is best for you!
What about the athletic insulin pumper? Is it ok to wear an insulin pump when you are participating in an active sport like hockey, football, or basketball? And what are you supposed to do if you are a dancer or participate in gymnastics and there just doesn't seem to be a place to even put the insulin pump? Athletic trainer and pumper Rick Philbin will discuss this, and more! Rick will also be available by appointment on Saturday and Sunday for individual kids and their parents to discuss specific sports-related challenges with diabetes management.
Finally, ADA's Crystal Jackson will talk with parents about how to make insulin pumping in school be a positive and healthy experience for kids, families, and the school professionals. It may seem like an easy thing to accomplish, but there are so many pieces involved with successful pumping in a school environment, that it is really helpful to walk through the steps with Crystal. On Sunday, by appointment, Crystal will work on specific problem-solving with families who are currently experiencing challenges with pumping in their school districts.
Experts Who Can Help
CWD has invited some of the top experts in the diabetes industry to share their ideas with you. In addition to the scheduled presentations, the conference faculty will be available during meals and breaks for more personalized discussion with moms and dads. Our faculty are very approachable - don't be shy about asking questions! This is a time to discuss anything on your mind relating to diabetes management. It's a great opportunity to network and share ideas, and interact with several of CWD's most wonderful and caring professionals!
In addition, for kids, tweeners, and teens, there will be special sessions just for you all day both Saturday and Sunday. One area in the conference center is for kids ages 6-9, one area is designated for kids ages 10-12, and a third area is designated for teens. These sessions are fun and activity based - they will not focus on 'just diabetes,' so they are fine for sisters, brothers, and friends to attend!
Teens will start in ice-breaker and discussion groups in the morning. It is likely that they will head off-site in the afternoon on both days. These excursions will be led by Natalie Bellini, Chris Tull, Jim Vail, Nabil Elarbi and Katie Daugherty, all veteran CWD faculty and staff. Parents are welcome as chaperones if you'd like to come along. Some pocket money for incidentals or snacks should be provided by parents.
Any teen with diabetes going off-site must have a meter, insulin, and glucose along with them! Also, parents must sign a release that it is OK for the teen to go offsite with CWD staff.
Please note that elementary and tweener sessions are for all children, not just those with diabetes. Sessions will include games, a Scavenger Hunt, arts-n-crafts projects, pool time, and some outdoor activities (sitting in one place all day simply is not fun). There will be some discussion about taking care of diabetes and some discussion about insulin pumps. We try to 'play it by ear' with our younger group, and follow their lead as far as what is interesting and exciting for them to do at any given time of the day. Again, our faculty - Lauren Lanning, Michelle Rago, Gayle Schurig, and Elizabeth Vanover - have experience with this age group and have worked for years with school-aged kids in CWD conferences. Parents are welcome to help or observe at any time!
We will have childcare for potty trained children ages 3-5. No separate child care registration is required. Mary Babin, who coordinates childcare for all CWD conferences, will once again be in charge of the youngest crowd!
The Program
The program is designed to run 5 sessions simultaneously during most of the weekend. There will be two-day educational tracks for adults and parents of children with diabetes, school-age children (ages 6-9), tweeners (ages 10-12), and teens (ages 13+). During some sessions, parents will have a choice of two speakers. Sessions will end on Sunday late afternoon. Participants who would like to continue to visit and interact with other CWD families are encouraged to stay over Sunday night and relax poolside or enjoy the many attractions that La Jolla has to offer. Please note that all conference participants under the age of 18 must have a parent or adult guardian with them during the entire conference (i.e., teens and children should not be dropped off to participate while parents go elsewhere). This is for health and liability reasons, and there will be no exceptions.
The Conference Venue
The San Diego Marriott La Jolla is located at 4240 La Jolla Village Drive in La Jolla California, approximately 10 miles from the San Diego airport. This property is newly renovated and offers some wonderful space to CWD participants including plenty of meeting room accommodations for all age groups, an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, several restaurants, a sports bar with big screen tv, pool tables, air hockey, and video games, and a state of the art fitness center. Single and double room rates are $139 per night plus tax. Rollaways are extra. Each room offers wireless high speed Internet, a 2-line phone with voice mail, cable TV, and a coffee maker with complimentary coffee (and Starbucks downstairs). The Westfield Shopping mall - a pedestrian mall with over 200 shops and restaurants - is a short walk from the hotel.
To make your room reservation, you must either call the hotel at 858-587-1414 or reserve online at the Marriott reservations web site. You must identify yourself as being with the Children with Diabetes conference to be included in the CWD room block and to get the preferential group rate.
Reservations are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The room block will be held for CWD until March 13, 2007. Note that there is a conference registration fee per family and that reserving a room does not register you for the conference. Rates vary according to the date of registration. Please refer to the website for details.
How To Get There From the Airport
Cloud 9 Shuttle offers a variety of options, round trip or one-way, between the airport and the Marriott La Jolla. A one-way shared van ticket is $14. A sedan seating up to 3 is $56. To see other options or to make reservations, visit their web site at www.cloud9shuttle.com.
Fun Things To Do
The Focus on Pumping conference will kick-off Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. with an Exhibitor's Reception. This is a great opportunity for all conference participants (kids and teens, too) to meet each other, browse the exhibits, have some great conversation, and enjoy some yummy hors d'oeuvres. The exhibitors will all be set up right outside the main conference ballroom - very accessible for everyone! Afterwards, take the kids poolside and enjoy a fun evening (and let the kids get some energy out)!
Saturday and Sunday mornings, breakfast will be served in the conference ballroom from 7:45-8:45. Sessions will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. Healthy snack breaks will be offered mid-morning and mid-afternoon in the exhibit area. The exhibit hall will open in conjunction with the first snack break at 10:00 a.m.
Saturday and Sunday at lunch, all conference participants will enjoy a healthy buffet outside on the patio. Again, this is a great time to finish up with your lunch and head back upstairs to the exhibitors to have discussion and look at some pump technology after learning new information that morning. The lunch break is 90 minutes; plenty of time to eat, share some great conversation, perhaps get a short walk and fresh air, and come back for an afternoon of exciting breakout sessions. Teens likely will head offsite after lunch with the teen leaders, while the kids will regroup for their afternoon activities at 1:30 p.m. The exhibit area will close after morning snack break on Sunday.
Dinner for all participants begins on Saturday night at 6:30 pm in the main ballroom. There will be a short speaker presentation (to be announced) beginning at 8:00. Also at 8:00, we will be showing movies in the Elementary room and the Tweener room. The rooms will be supervised, so feel free to drop off your child with a pillow and a beverage, and let them watch the movie while you listen to the speaker. Please be sure to pick up your kids right after the movie ends. Our CWD staff need to regroup for Sunday!
While the hotel is situated away from the beach, it is only a short drive to the Village of La Jolla, beaches, beach-front restaurants, the Birch Aquarium, Balboa Park, and other San Diego and La Jolla destinations. It is well worth spending an extra day sight-seeing if you are from out of town and can take the additional time.
Cancellation policy:
Cancellations prior to March 29 will be refunded minus a $25 processing fee. After March 29, no refunds are available.
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