Malia Agaoan was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was 9. Other than having a disease that dictates that she must monitor her blood sugar levels at all times and never neglect her insulin injections, Malia, now 16, appears to be your typical teenager with the usual assortment of youthful hopes, dreams and challenges.

One challenge her friends don't have is going into insulin shock on occasion, or ending up in the hospital ER several times a year from dehydration. Learning to deal with diabetes remains an ongoing struggle for the Wai'anae High School junior.

"It took a long time to get used to," she said. "In the beginning I had to go to classes and learn how to take shots."

Among the more pleasurable learning experiences for Malia has been Keola Keiki Camp, a twice-a-year weekend diabetes camp for kids like her, their parents, and their siblings, hosted by American Diabetes Association, Hawai'i.

The camp has been around in one form or another for 25 years to help kids with diabetes interact with others in the same predicament, according to ADA, Hawai'i executive director Majken Mechling.

In addition to numerous fun and relaxing activities, the camp offers Malia and the others a cool way to discover better diabetes management techniques, or how to tackle issues that kids with diabetes encounter with teachers, friends or others who are unfamiliar with the disease.

"Basically, I can do anything any other kid can do, as long as I monitor blood sugar," she said. "If it's too low, I've got to go get something to eat or drink juice. If it's too high, I need to test my blood and take a shot."

It's a balancing act that is always with her. It never goes away. It never will. She knows it. But she's learning to accept that fact and move forward.