Ukrainian Diabetes Project (UDP) medical team traveling to Ukraine this summer consisted of the following individuals: Andrea Skrypka RD, CDE, Volodymyr Skrypka, Maureen McGrath RN, Ellen Simpson MD, Shama Roderick RD, Eric Beamish, Serhiy Boyko, and Maria Lewytkyj.

Cherkasy Clinic 5th year with UDP - 150 diabetic children provided with 10 hours of diabetes education and one year's worth of insulin, syringes, and blood testing strips - 540 total children served - 2nd year clinic held in camp environment - UDP team included Andrea Skrypka, Volodymyr Skrypka, and Ellen Simpson - Parent support group established.

Kharkiv Clinic 1st year with UDP - 150 diabetic children provided with 10 hours of diabetes education and one year's worth of insulin, syringes, and blood testing strips - clinic collaborated with the Ukrainian Diabetes Association by holding classes at the UDA's boarding school/camp facility - 1st year held in camp environment - collaborated with Kharkiv Rotary Club - UDP team included Andrea Skrypka, Volodymyr Skrypka, Ann Skrypka, and Maureen McGrath.

Ternopil Clinic 1st year with UDP - 150 diabetic children provided with 10 hours of diabetes education and one year's worth of insulin, syringes, and blood testing strips - 1st year held in camp environment - worked closely with parents organization Boratino - UDP team included Andrea Skrypka, Volodymyr Skrypka, Shama Roderick, Eric Beamish, Serhiy Boyko, and Maria Lewytzkyj.

Major supply sponsors included: Eli Lilly & Co.- insulin; Clinical Diagnostics Inc. - blood testing strips; Boehringer Mannheim - blood testing strips; MAP - discounted syringes; Russ Berrie & Co. West Inc - toys; Coalition Against Hunger - refrigerator storage; Diabetic Youth Foundation - Bearskin Meadow camp sponsorship, various diabetic supplies; Schultz Bros./Bekins - storage boxes; United Airlines- discount cargo rate; Aoki Research Center; UCSF Medical Center; Kaiser Permanente; Air Ukraine - discount cargo rate. Individual financial sponsors - too numerous to list here.

UDP's most challenging effort is the development of diabetes camps in which to operate its clinics. The emphasis is toward a more healthy normal life with diabetes away from the medical, sickly image. With assistance from Diabetic Youth Foundation, Cherkay physicians, Eric Beamish, Serhiy Boyko, Ukrainian Diabetes Association, the following developments have occurred: With the support and cooperation of the Diabetic Youth Foundation (DYF), the UDP has been able to have Ukrainian physicians come to Bearskin Meadow Camp to observe and work directly with the children and camp physicians. Last year 6 diabetic children, an endocrinologist, and translators from Cherkasy, at the expense of the DYF, participated at Bearskin Meadow Camp for 10 days at teen camp. They took the information and experiences back to Ukraine to work on the development of a local diabetes camp. This summer Cherkasy operated its diabetic camp for the second year. The improvements this year included the children testing their blood sugar 3-4 times per day, a physician on-call 24 hours a day, counselors, and a stronger teaching component by the physicians at camp. The improvements were very impressive and as a result the children had a better experience at camp.

In addition, UDP volunteers, Eric Beamish and Serhiy Boyko contributed great efforts to open the first diabetic camp in Ternopil. Close work with the coordinator in Ternopil, Serhiy Nechiporuk, resulted in the first diabetic camp in Ternopil. With Eric Beamish's leadership, knowledge and experience in camp development and recent observation at Bearskin Meadow Camp, the camp in Ternopil included daily blood testing, counselor/educators and a positive environment for the children to learn about living with diabetes.

In Kharkiv, the UDP was fortunate to collaborate with two organizations: The Kharkiv Rotary Club and the Ukrainian Diabetes Association. The Ukrainian Diabetes Association operates a year long school/housing for children with diabetes in a camp environment just outside the city. The UDP held classes at this location. The Rotary Club went beyond the call of duty to arrange and organize the UDP's stay.

Pediatric endocrinologist from Kharkiv, Alexander Loboda, spent 4 weeks observing various aspects of diabetes care including UCSF Medical Center, Diabetic Youth Foundation Bearskin Meadow Camp, Aoki Research Center, and Kaiser Permanente. Through the support of Eric Beamish, a second exchange was made possible. Serhiy Nechoporuk, who is the inspiration that brought the UDP to Ternopil spent 7 weeks in the USA. Part of his time was spent at Diabetic Youth Foundation-Bearskin Meadow Camp to learn more about the operations of diabetes camp.

Nearly one half million dollars worth of diabetic supplies were obtained and transported via UDP medical staff to Ukraine. The supplies were distributed directly to 450 children. The supplies included 5400 vials of insulin, 45,000 syringes, 328,500 blood testing strips, 450 toys, 450 packs sugarfree gum and 10 cases sugar substitute, and 400 diabetes manuals in the Ukrainian language.

In the regions the UDP has worked, the image of diabetes is gradually changing from one of invalid, sick, burden on society to that of living a normal, productive life. First the children are believing in themselves that they can grow up healthy and strong. They are experiencing normal growth patterns. We are especially seeing this in the region of Cherkasy where the UDP has worked the past five years. The doctors are now documenting the improvement in growth and health in the children who are controlling their blood sugar levels.

Diabetes management is not only a new concept to the children with diabetes but also to the physicians. The UDP is dealing with physicians that accept blindness and amputation as part of the disease. The UDP is dealing with physicians who have never experienced self management or self blood glucose monitoring; physicians who have described self blood glucose monitoring as torture. The UDP is finally impressing upon the children and the physicians that diabetics can lead normal healthy lives and that education, especially patient education, is the key to this success.

This summer, two UDP volunteers, Andrea Skrypka and Maureen McGrath, both type I diabetics, served as role models to the children. It is especially important that the children and doctors not only hear about diabetics living a healthy, productive life, but also see it in action.