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Family course for children with Type 1 diabetes

The family course for children with Type 1 diabetes is suitable for children who

  • who has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes
  • who is under school age or in elementary school
  • who has a need for course-based rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is arranged for the following target groups:

  • for children under school age and their families
  • for children in primary school and their families.

Use the course search to look up when courses are arranged

Use the search term ‘diabetes’. Please note, the service is in Finnish and Swedish only.

Rehabilitation course search

Purpose of the course

The aim of the course is to provide comprehensive information and guidance for children and their families and to help them live a full and meaningful life despite the illness. Rehabilitation is also a way of strengthening the family’s resources and life management skills as well as a means of providing support for the families and their support networks. It also provides opportunities to meet other families who are in a similar situation.

Content of the course and implementation

The rehabilitation is implemented as group rehabilitation taking the child’s and the family’s goal and individual need for rehabilitation into consideration.

The course includes group discussions and working in small groups, a variety of activities as well as interviews, meetings and discussions with rehabilitation experts.

The rehabilitation is arranged on the service provider’s premises. The course lasts 5 days.

The child’s family accompanies the child throughout the rehabilitation. 1 to 2 adult close relatives and up to 2 siblings participate in the family course. If the number of siblings wishing to participate in the course exceeds this, Kela will contact the service provider in order to decide and agree on practical matters and make sure that there is sufficient room for all. The family can stay overnight at the place of the rehabilitation or travel there from home each day.

The service provider contacts the family before and after the rehabilitation.

Course personnel

The course is implemented by the following experts:

  • specialist in internal medicine, endocrinology or children’s diseases or other specialist with special competence in diabetes treatment
  • diabetes nurse
  • nutritional therapist
  • psychologist.

Depending on the child’s individual needs, other rehabilitation professionals and assisting personnel may also take part.

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Last modified 26/9/2023