MISSOULA- Those diagnosed with diabetes face a unique set of challenges and the 22nd annual Diabetes Workshop, “The Power of I CAN, at Community Medical Center today on Saturday helped people find solutions for these problems.
Lisa and Lucas Dobson came all the way from Salmon, Idaho and say the workshop helped them learn effective ways to help their daughter Anjel deal with her diabetes.
“To pack for her and to get her situated for those situations where she’s not going to have her support team with her and she’ll be able to manage if by herself,” Lisa Dobson said.
The Dobson’s said the workshop also allows Anjel to interact with other children facing the same challenges she is.
Keynote speaker Dr. Natalie Strand says working with youth organizations like the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation helps children learn to deal with diabetes.
“Anybody who has some motivation or is looking for a group to be a part of, please consider working with your local JDRF because we would love your support and we do a lot of fun activities, a lot of outdoor stuff, it’s a great group of people.”
Families and individuals say they enjoyed their time together, learning the new innovations in diabetes treatment and also sharing their experiences and challenges.
“A lot of families say that they can’t do what they want to do. That’s wrong. They can do what they want to do as long as they set their goals to it and set what they need for it. —- They prepare for it like you prepare for everything else in life,” Lucas Dobson stated.
Dr. Strand added that the workshop looked to emphasize the word “CAN”.
“And we’re really just trying to take the word can’t out of your vocabulary and spread the word that with planning and motivation really anything is possible.”
There are more events slated for Sunday including the Missoula Walk to Cure Diabetes tomorrow at 1 p.m.at Dornblaser Stadium.
