"Learn, Laugh, Live" is a multi-disciplinary program that offers medical, nutritional, physiological and emotional instruction and support to families with a child recently diagnosed with diabetes. The residential program is the first of its kind to provide a complete weekend curriculum on diabetes in the comfort of a non-clinical retreat setting with continued support through interactive on-line tools for one year following the program. While parents learn through a combination of informal lectures and interactive exercises, children engage in fun and games designed to complement the parent's curriculum through experiential learning. The first program, which attracted over 35 people, was well-received by both parents and children in attendance. The comments of Cassandra Gutierrez, an 11-year-old from Saugus, Massachusetts, typified the positive response.

"It was an unbelievable weekend," said Gutierrez, who was diagnosed with Type I Diabetes this past February. "The best part was knowing that there are lots of other kids with diabetes, not just me. It was really helpful to hear their stories and how they deal with it every day. There were lots of similarities between their stories and mine, which actually made me feel pretty good." As with the first weekend, a full range of services will be offered at Barton's 200-acre retreat and conference center in North Oxford, including: full Diabetes Curriculum for parents to learn the ABC's of diabetes; baseline measurements of critical health factors; fun and creative programming for children reinforcing the curriculum being taught to parents; individual family consultations with medical and wellness experts, and participation in on-line discussion boards for post-program networking and support.

The programs will bring together children from across the country, introducing them to peers struggling with the same learning process and to role models who have successfully overcome the difficulties of the disease. While the program is intended to serve primarily children and teenagers and their families, there is no specific age limit on attendance. Ultimately, anyone who has recently been diagnosed with diabetes is welcome. In fact, many people who have had diabetes for a longer period of time will find the program helpful as a refresher.

###