'Teddy Bear Clinic' helps children learn about Type 1 diabetes

BOSTON — Dozens of young patients living with Type 1 diabetes spent their Saturday learning some valuable skills.

The Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston helped nearly 75 children learn how to administer their insulin shots by practicing on teddy bears.

Children walked around the "Teddy Bear Clinic" gathering information about diabetes and how to manage it.

Each child was able to either pick their favorite teddy bear or bring their own and learn how to care for their new best friend as they made their rounds to different medical stations with their bear's medical records.

Various stations were set up to help them learn things like how to measure their bear's blood sugar and give it the proper amounts of insulin.

Other stations included learning to measure their bear with a ruler, weighing them, taking them grocery shopping for healthy foods and giving them an eye exam.

The Joslin Center has been hosting their Teddy Bear Clinic for 15 years now.

"It allows them to familiarize themselves with what the steps of taking care of diabetes is, so when they, in turn, take care of their diabetes hopefully they're able to be more confident and prepared," said one of the child life specialists assisting with today's event.

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