Summer camp and sleepovers: A guide to managing T1D away from home

For kids with type 1 diabetes (T1D), having a sleepover or attending summer camp can be an exciting step towards independence. But it can also bring up a lot of questions for families. Will my child be safe? Will they know what to do? Will others understand their needs?

With the right preparation and support, the answer is yes.

“Kids with T1D can do all the same things as other kids – including sleepovers and summer camp,” says Huay-Lin Lo, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinologist at Children’s Health℠ and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern. “The key is making sure they and the adults around them feel confident and prepared.”

Whether your child is heading to their first sleepover or considering an overnight camp, understanding what they need – and how to plan ahead – can help them have a safe, fun and empowering experience away from home.

Preparing your child to manage T1D away from home

Every child is different and there's no magic age for when a child is ready to take on more responsibility with their diabetes care. How much of their management they’re ready to handle can also depend on how old they were when they were diagnosed.

It’s important to allow each kid to go at their own pace. “Forcing a child to become more independent will not work, and we don’t want to pressure them or overwhelm them,” says Dr. Lo. “But we always encourage children to be active participants in their diabetes care and want them to feel empowered.”

It may help to start with some of the simpler tasks like checking blood glucose or putting on a sensor, before moving on to things like calculating insulin doses or giving their own injections. As children demonstrate more responsibility, you can gradually turn over more aspects of their care to them. But there should always be an appropriate level of adult supervision, even into the teenage years.

Supplies to manage T1D away from home

Typical things a kid with T1D needs to bring to a sleepover include:

• A blood glucose meter

• Testing supplies for 2 to 3 nights (just in case)

• Insulin pens or vials/syringes (including long-acting and short-acting)

• Your child’s preferred hypoglycemia treatment method

• An extra pump or sensor (if they use them)

Hopefully, your child will not need a pump or sensor replaced for a one-night sleepover (and it helps to make sure their devices are not about to expire), but it’s good to have extra just in case.

“It’s good to pack a spare pump or sensor for a sleepover because they can occasionally get ripped off during activity – or just suddenly stop working,” says Dr. Lo. “If your child does not know how to put on a new sensor or pump by themselves, you’ll want to make a plan for what to do if they need a new one.”

Sleepovers for kids who have T1D

If you’re considering allowing your child with T1D to sleepover at a friend’s house, it’s a good idea to make sure that your child is able to:

• Recognize when they need to take insulin.

• Administer insulin themselves.

• Monitor their blood sugar.

• Recognize how they feel when their blood sugar is low, and how to treat it.

It’s also important to have a conversation with the host family, and to give them some guidance.

Make sure the family is comfortable having your child in their care – and that they’re willing and able to stay in good communication with you, in case your child needs extra support or care.

If the host family doesn’t know much about T1D, you can briefly explain the basics, including that your child:

• Needs to take insulin when they eat (which could be in the form of shots or a pump).

• Needs to monitor their glucose levels.

• Will bring all the supplies they need, including their preferred fast-acting treatment for low blood sugars (for example, tabs, juice, soda, gummy snacks).

“Ideally, a kid’s first sleepover would be with a family you trust and know well. Having an established relationship can make it easier for the family to contact you anytime with concerns – and for you to walk them through any situation that may arise,” says Dr. Lo.

Summer camps specifically for kids with T1D

There are several summer camps in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex specifically for kids who have T1D, including:

• Camp Sweeney: The longest and largest camp for kids with T1D, for kids ages 5 to 18. Sessions last about 2.5 weeks.

• Camp New Horizons: Week-long day camps run by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for kids ages 5 to 17.

• Texas Lions camp: Two separate week-long sleepaway camps for kids ages 8 to 15.

Attending a diabetes-specific camp like Camp Sweeney can be easier on kids and parents in a few ways, including:

• Meeting new friends and being around other kids who have T1D.

• Self-management and independence are encouraged.

• Milestones are celebrated (like putting a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) or pump on for the first time).

• Kids motivate each other to care for one another.

• Highly trained medical staff are available and are equipped to handle any situation or emergency.

“Kids who attend overnight summer camp tend to be more active than usual and often have lower blood sugars and decreased insulin needs. The staff at diabetes camps will help make adjustments to their insulin as needed,” says Dr. Lo.

General summer camps

If your child is interested in a camp that’s not specifically for kids who have T1D, it’s important to find out what resources they have to care for your child.

You can ask:

• Do you have experience with campers who have T1D?

• What are the camp’s protocols for caring for a child who has T1D?

• Do you have doctors or nurses on staff?

• Are your counselors trained in first aid?

• What availability do you have – in real time – to manage T1D?

• What type of emergency action plans do you have?

Asking these questions will give you a good idea of their level of familiarity with kids who have T1D – and their ability to manage whatever issues could arise. Even for a teenager who is almost fully independent in managing their diabetes, a summer camp must still have someone who can respond to T1D-related emergencies.

Helping your kid feel empowered

With the proper preparation, all kids with T1D can enjoy sleepovers, summer camps and any other activity they want to try. The more opportunities you give them to take more responsibility for their care in a safe environment, the more confident you will all feel.

“We don’t ever want kids with T1D to ever feel like they can’t do something – whether it’s camp, sports, or even a certain career,” says Dr. Lo. “I always tell families, don't change your life to match Type 1 diabetes. We'll tweak the diabetes to match what your kid wants to do with life.”

Learn more

Get support from endocrinologists at Children's Health to empower your child to become more involved in their health and in managing their T1D care. Make an appointment to get started.

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