Kids 'n' Us: Families Facing Diabetes Conference - March 21, 2009
Kids 'n' Us:
Families Facing Diabetes Conference

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
400 First Edmonton Place
10665 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5J 3S9
Phone: (780) 428-0343
Fax: (780) 428-0348
Email: Kidsnusconference@hotmail.com

Kids 'n' Us is an informal full day conference intended to provide practical information and support for children, parents, and caregivers living and working with Type 1 Diabetes (formerly known as Juvenile Diabetes). This conference is where everyone understands your lifestyle, concerns and worries. It is an opportunity to update your knowledge about Type 1 Diabetes, learn new coping techniques, and network with other families living with diabetes.

Speakers and sessions focus on issues that pertain to families dealing with Type 1 Diabetes. Information booths for various corporate, retail, and service sponsors display the latest equipment, supplies, and resources available. The keynote speaker is chosen to highlight innovative and cutting edge research towards a cure or better daily medication management for those with Type 1 Diabetes.

The conference is hosted as an Outreach Program of the Edmonton Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, with support from the healthcare professionals of the Stollery Pediatric Diabetes Education Centre. Every year, the event evolves and grows in response to comments and suggestions from the previous year's attendees.

The "Kids 'n' Us: Families Facing Diabetes Conference" is an example of parents working for parents, a fully volunteer-organized event designed to help families cope with the challenges and realities of living with Type 1 Diabetes. This is the only conference in Alberta that is devoted to the unique needs of children with Type 1 Diabetes and their families.

In addition to educating and encouraging parents, it is hoped that this conference will increase public awareness of daily struggles of living with Type 1 Diabetes. By educating others about the realities of the disease, it is hoped to alleviate some of society's negative prejudice due to mistaken beliefs of the cause of Type 1 Diabetes.