Heartbeat September 2018

Woodland hike proves huge hit with
diabetic children
WOMEN AND CHILD HEALTH
Children with diabetes at Sandwell
Hospital participated in a woodlands
hike at Woodlands Adventure in
Aldridge, Walsall
Woodlands Adventure specialise in both
residential and non-residential outdoor
activities for school trips, youth and
uniform groups, colleges and universities
and sports/social clubs.
The woodlands hike was organised by
the diabetes team and was funded from
a variety of fundraising sessions and the
Your Trust Charity paediatric diabetes
trust fund.
The annual trip aimed to give children
and young people experience of insulin
adjustment in regards to managing their
glucose during exercise.
Amanda Whitehouse, Paediatric
Diabetes Nurse helped organise the trip
and believes it was beneficial.
The paediatric diabetes team organised a special day trip for young diabetics
She said: “The woodlands trip proved to
be a real success as it gave our diabetic
children the opportunity exercise safely
while controlling their blood glucose levels.
“It reinforced good habits such as checking
their blood glucose before and after
exercise and judging dose of insulin to give
for meals.”
Dr Chizo Agwu, Consultant Paediatrician in
Diabetes and Endocrinology also attended
the woodland trip and said: “With a
variety of activities on offer including a zip
wire, obstacle course and canoeing, the
Patients breathe easy at new
support group
MEDICINE AND EMERGENCY
CARE
The first meeting of a support
group for sufferers of a serious
lung condition, organised by the
respiratory team has been hailed a
success.
More than 20 patients and relatives
came along to the pulmonary fibrosis
support group session, held at West
Bromwich Library earlier this month.
Sarah Evans, Clinical Nurse Specialist
has helped to set up the group, which
will meet every second Thursday of the
month.
It is open to sufferers of idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) which affects
around 6,000 people each year. The
condition was recently highlighted after
it was revealed legendary TV presenter
Keith Chegwin died of the condition
and Katie Price’s mum Amy is currently
battling it.
Tracy Hacket attended the event with
her sister Tina Woodhouse.
Tracy said: "Having a support group in the
Sandwell area is a fantastic idea. There was
nothing like this for our dad at the time of
his diagnosis. He had to travel further away,
which was sometimes an issue because he
couldn't get there due to his illness.
"We feel like we are able to now talk about
our experience with our dad, so that we can
help others."
Sarah added: “The first meeting has been
very successful. There have been around 20
patients and carers here sharing their stories
and many have said what a wonderful idea
this is.
L-R: Sarah Evans, Clinical Nurse Specialist,
with Tina Woodhouse and Tracy Hackett,
whose father suffered from IPF
day meant that the children had ample
opportunity to partake in strenuous exercise
under supervision whilst learning how to
better control their bloods.”
Liz Hudson, Paediatric Diabetes Liaison
Nurse thinks the woodland hike has had a
positive impact on all who attended.
She said: “The trip helped the children and
young people meet others children with
diabetes allowing them to empathise with
each other in terms of their condition as
well as make new friends”.
"IPF is a debilitating illness which can have
quite an emotional effect on sufferers. It
limits their quality of life in a big way and
they have to overcome this and learn to
manage their symptoms which include
shortness of breath, a persistent dry cough,
tiredness, loss of appetite, weight loss and
rounded and swollen fingertips.
She added: “Within the last year, we
have started to deliver a nursing service
for patients with pulmonary fibrosis. We
were approached by the charity action
for pulmonary fibrosis about setting up a
support group for sufferers of pulmonary
fibrosis – we agreed as we also felt that
this was something that was needed in the
area.
“The meeting is open to people living in
the area who are affected by the condition
and would like peer support, hearing how
fellow sufferers deal with their symptoms
and day-to- day challenges.”
The next meeting will be held on
11 October at West Bromwich Library,
High Street, between 1-3pm.
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