The healing power of diabetes camps in times of crisis: Lessons from Türkiye

When a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, life changes instantly. Daily insulin injections, blood glucose monitoring, carbohydrate counting, and constant vigilance become part of childhood. For economically disadvantaged families or those facing crisis, these demands can feel overwhelming. For these families, diabetes camps not only provide an escape from daily routines and a chance to relax but also give a lifeline.

For many years, the diabetes community has recognised diabetes camps as powerful spaces where children and adolescents living with type 1 diabetes gain confidence, knowledge and peer support. We know that camps can improve diabetes self-management, glycaemic outcomes and quality of life. Yet access to these opportunities is often shaped by socioeconomic realities. When families cannot afford fees, transport or time away from work, children are excluded from experiences that could strengthen their health and their sense of belonging.

In Türkiye, one paediatric diabetes centre has taken on the challenge of addressing this inequity. Established in 2007, the centre began organising diabetes camps in 2010. To date, they have hosted more than 50 camps, welcoming between 40 and 115 children at each session. The camps have lasted one to six nights, focusing on children and adolescents living in socially and economically disadvantaged environments.

Helping families fill the gap

Organising a diabetes camp is costly. Accommodation, meals, educational materials, sports equipment, medical supplies and transport all require funding. In many countries, families are expected to pay fees, though partial sponsorship may be available. For low-income families, even reduced fees can be out of reach.

According to estimates released by the International Diabetes Federation in 2025, in Türkiye, approximately 195,853 people across all age groups live with type 1 diabetes, including around 46,786 children and adolescents.

With this in mind, the centre decided to offer campers the opportunity to attend camps at almost no cost. The centre reduced costs by using public facilities, including those of Düzce University, the Turkish Red Crescent, the Turkish Diabetes Foundation, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Sometimes, municipal scout camps were used. When they could not find available public facilities, they rented hotels. Any additional expenses were covered by donations and support from affiliated associations.

The Turkish Red Crescent’s contribution was particularly significant. Over four years, eight camps were held at the Red Crescent Youth Camp on Heybeliada in Istanbul, with all expenses covered. Professional teams delivered educational, scouting, sports and recreational fun alongside diabetes education. For many children, this was their first time they experienced a structured camp environment where their health needs were understood and supported.

For children living with type 1 diabetes, being surrounded by peers who also check glucose levels and take insulin can be transformative. The burden of feeling “different” diminishes. Conversations about hypoglycaemia, insulin doses, or diabetes management at school become normal. In financially strained households, where families may struggle to access up-to-date education or psychosocial support, these shared experiences are especially valuable.

Overcoming transport barriers

Geography can be as limiting as finances. The centre provides care to around 1,400 children and adolescents living with diabetes across its province and seven neighbouring provinces. When camps were initially offered in nearby regions, children living farther away often lacked access.

In 2025, a new approach was introduced. A camp was first organised in Kula (Manisa), followed by three simultaneous camps in Kırkağaç (Manisa), Afyon, and Karabük, using youth camp facilities from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Around 230 children and adolescents participated, including young people from provinces further afield.

This decentralised model illustrates an important lesson for diabetes services globally. Access is not only about funding – it is about proximity, infrastructure and intentional outreach. By bringing camps closer to children rather than expecting children to travel long distances, the programme reduced inequalities. For families who might not be able to afford extended travel or who worry about sending their child far from home, localised camps make attendance easier.

The disaster of the century

In February 2023, two devastating earthquakes, centred in Kahramanmaraş, struck Türkiye. More than 55,000 people lost their lives, and millions were left homeless. For children living with type 1 diabetes, natural disasters pose immediate and ongoing risks, such as compromised insulin storage, lost glucose monitoring supplies and interrupted access to healthcare. Psychological trauma adds to the daily challenges of diabetes management.

In the summer following the earthquake, around 60 children attended a five-day diabetes camp co-organised with local authorities in Kahramanmaraş. Children from neighbouring earthquake-affected provinces were also to attend. The camp had strong government support, reflecting a shared understanding that recovery is about more than treatment – it’s also about rebuilding confidence, connection and well-being.

In 2024, the Turkish Diabetes Foundation hosted the camp and covered all costs for children from Hatay, one of the hardest-hit provinces. They spent five days at a camp in Istanbul alongside children from Düzce, who had experienced earthquakes in 1999 and 2022.

Bringing together children who have lived through different disasters creates a unique form of solidarity. Beyond diabetes education, these camps offer a space to process trauma, rebuild routines and re-establish a sense of safety. For children living with a chronic condition, restoring predictability and peer connection can be as vital as restoring physical infrastructure.

Continuing through a pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic presented another form of deprivation. Lockdowns, quarantine measures and fear of infection disrupted routine care. Families were advised to avoid hospital visits unless in an emergency. Follow-up appointments shifted to telephone and telemedicine.

During 2020 and 2021, two mini-camps were organised as family, child, and youth camps, each lasting two evenings and operating under strict safety measures. In 2022, five longer camps were held. Notably, the centre reports that it was the only institution to continue organising camps during the pandemic, with no consequences recorded.

For many families, isolation during the pandemic intensified anxiety. Children living with type 1 diabetes often faced additional fears about vulnerability to infection. Camps provided carefully managed opportunities to reconnect and learn in a time when many support systems were disrupted.

Measurable and meaningful benefits

The benefits of diabetes camps are now widely recognised. Structured education, supervised practice and peer learning can improve self-management skills and confidence. Psychosocial gains, including reduced feelings of isolation and increased self-esteem, are also well documented.

In this centre’s experience, participation in camps was associated with improved blood glucose levels. Children who attended camps demonstrated better glycaemic management than their peers who did not attend. As a member of the international SWEET network, the centre reports HbA1c levels twice yearly and has observed a steady decline in average HbA1c over time, with camps contributing to this improvement.

HbA1c, a measure of average blood glucose over approximately three months, is an important indicator of long-term diabetes management. While many factors influence HbA1c, including access to technology and medical care, educational and psychosocial interventions play a crucial role. Camps create immersive learning environments where children can practise adjusting insulin doses, understand carbohydrate counting in real-life settings and learn to recognise and treat hypoglycaemia safely.

Feedback from children and families is described as deeply moving. For parents, seeing their child manage diabetes independently, even for a few days, can restore confidence. For children, realising they are not alone can reduce the silent burden many carry.

The benefits extend beyond participants. Media coverage of camps has increased public awareness of diabetes and encouraged greater engagement from government and public institutions. Healthcare professionals involved in the camps report improved motivation and valuable professional development. In resource-constrained settings, renewed staff commitment can have a lasting impact on service quality.

Lessons for global diabetes care

This experience highlights several lessons relevant to policymakers, healthcare professionals and advocates worldwide.

First, equity must be intentional. If camps rely solely on participant fees, children living in poverty will remain excluded. Partnerships with public institutions, non-governmental organisations and community donors can make inclusion possible.

Second, access must be geographically responsive. Delivering programmes closer to where children live reduces hidden costs and practical barriers.

Third, crisis contexts require adaptive responses. Whether facing natural disasters or pandemics, continuity of psychosocial and educational support for children living with type 1 diabetes is essential. Health systems must plan not only for insulin supply, but also for emotional resilience.

Finally, camps are not luxuries. Under conditions of deprivation, they become protective interventions. In environments where children may feel isolated, stigmatised or overwhelmed, camps offer solidarity, skill-building and hope.

For the more than nine million people worldwide living with type 1 diabetes, and particularly for children growing up in low-resource settings or crisis, comprehensive care must extend beyond clinic walls. Diabetes camps, when designed with equity at their core, can help ensure that no child is left to navigate this lifelong condition alone.

We thank Ilknur Arslanoglu, Professor in Pediatric Endocrinology, Duzce University, Türkiye, for submitting the content that informed this article.