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Barry Cuthbertson, President, Belmopan Rotary Club
"As part of our visit to Mr. Marfield from the Belmopan Diabetes Association came to us and give us a presentation on the activities that was going on with diabetes in general in Belize and in that presentation he had ask us to if we could help out with 4 youths that were in Belmopan to get monitoring equipment. So during this event here which coincides with the handing over the Juvenile Diabetes Summer Camp, we got youths from all over the country that have been diagnosed with diabetes. They will be trained in using the blood monitoring equipment and a lot of nutrition and items and stuff like that. So it was just a convenient time to make all the events come together."

"Once a child is diagnosed with diabetes, it's a change for the whole family. It's an incredible experience. It causes the family to have to change their lifestyle too. Children have to be trained to monitor their own health and with these children, they will have to pricked themselves up to 6-8 times a day and then use a test strip, put in the meter and read the sugar level in their blood - their insulin level."

Ronald Stuart, Assistant Treasurer, Belize Diabetes Association
"For parents to understand that they set the tone, the role and the responsibility is for them to be able to know what exists, the choices that they make on a daily basis where food is concerned, their exercise and medication where necessary - that they have to be able to make those informed choices and to teach their children."

Courtney Weatherbune
"How different has it been for you since you've been diagnosed with diabetes?"

Dy'anne Castillo, Diagnosed with diabetes
"Well I can't eat sweets. I have to prick myself a lot of times in the day."

Courtney Weatherbune
"How many times a day you have to prick yourself?"

Dy'anne Castillo
"Well depending on how I feel, like how many times I go into hyperglycemia or at the times I have to eat. I think about 10 times a day. I am supposed to eat a lot of vegetables and I am not supposed to eat too much of like too much bread, tortillas. I definitely can't have sweets. I have to eat only small portions of watermelon and pineapple, because they are high in glycemic."

Courtney Weatherbune
"And do you love these fruits. So how do you feel that now you won't be able or you can't eat your favorite foods? How does that affect you as a kid?"

Dy'anne Castillo
"I feel upset, because I wanted to eat like a pig for all my time, but now I can't."

Courtney Weatherbune
"With the summer camp and support from your parents and friends, it's easier to deal with?"

Dy'anne Castillo
"Yeah."

Courtney Weatherbune
"When were you diagnosed with diabetes?"

Clyde Lewis, 19 years old
"I was diagnosed at the age of 17."

Courtney Weatherbune
"I know that it of course must be very challenging for you as a young person dealing with this disease. How do you cope with it?"

Clyde Lewis, 19 years old
"I cope by testing myself, going to the doctor and use of medication and exercise."

Courtney Weatherbune
"How was it for you in those initial stages of your life?"

Monica Flowers, Diagnosed with diabetes at age 6
"Well I was thirsty a lot. I frequently urine a lot. I was always like shaking when it low and I get frustrated at times."

Courtney Weatherbune
"So how do you cope with those symptoms and of course your parents?"

Monica Flowers
"Well I portioned the meals that I eat because I am currently not on insulin, so I do dieting."

The Belize Rotary Club also made a donation to 4 kids from the Belize Diabetes Association's Belmopan Branch. They received blood glucose meters, test strips and other equipment that will help them manage the disease.