Every Child Matters - Children with Diabetes

1. Changes in the level of care neededDiabetes care has changed significantly in the past 10 years. At one time,children with diabetes were sent to school with only lows to worry about.Frequently, the blood sugar levels were left to run high to prevent hypos atschool. It has now been shown beyond doubt that high blood glucose levelsare the main cause of diabetic complications. There were no small portableblood glucose monitors to check what was happening. Now we have smallblood glucose monitors, multiple daily injections and insulin pumps. We havemore technology, more knowledge of good diabetes management. Sadly thisdoes not mean that the school system or the general public is any more awarethan they were 15 years ago.3.5 What happens when a child’s BG is notcontrolled?We now know much more about diabetes than we did in previous years. Weknow that in the short-term hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose levels and notenough insulin) can cause a child to have blurred vision and be unable toconcentrate on their schoolwork or any other tasks at hand. Research hasshown us that hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose level caused by too muchinsulin in the body) leaves a child weak and disoriented. When the bloodsugar is out of the normal range children can feel unwell and be unable tolearn properly. This effects their ongoing education. If staff members are notproperly educated to be aware of these conditions, problems can escalate and,in the case of hypoglycaemia, the child can have a seizure with the mostserious consequences. There also needs to be enough staff to give the support.By the time some of the youngest children are 25 they will have hadtype 1 diabetes for over 20 years. If the control has been poor over theseyears at school, by this time these children could already be experiencingcomplications due to poor control. Any steps taken now will help to reducethe possibility of complications developing and diminish the effects of any thatdo. Treating complications is a potentially expensive business. Effectivetreatment now and support in schools will not only improve the quality of lifenow and in the future but is also likely to save the NHS money in the long run.3.6 Choose health, choose life, choose to savemoney!Children have been muddling through, with mediocre or poor support inschool for umpteen years; we need to address these issues now so thatchildren with diabetes have a better quality of life now and a future with lessrisk of complications. Complications cost the NHS a vast amount ofmoney; anything done now to improve control will save moneylater.A school’s duty is to provide education in a safe non-restrictiveenvironment for children with diabetes. How can a school15