The Diabetes – What Schools Need to Know and the Parents Passport for Schools booklets are aimed at increasing standards of care for pupils with the condition in schools.
They have been published by the InDependent Diabetes Trust (IDDT).
In the UK there are about 20,000 children with Type 1 diabetes under the age of 15. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body stops producing insulin and is diagnosed as an acute condition requiring a lifetime of treatment with insulin.
Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children under-10 and managing the condition requires regular insulin doses either from injections or via a pump.
The Children and Families Act 2014 gives schools a legal duty to have a medical conditions policy in place, along with an individual healthcare plan for any child deemed to have SEN, which includes children with long-term health conditions, such as asthma or diabetes.
Diabetes – What Schools Need To Know is a resource for teachers and school staff, providing them with general information and tips about managing the condition in the school environment.
It covers key facts, including the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, as well as sections on using insulin, diet and carbohydrates, exercise and blood glucose testing.
Information and advice on hypoglycaemia, hyperglycaemia, stress and communication are also included.
Parents Passport for Schools, meanwhile, provides a means by which parents can formally let schools know how to manage their child’s diabetes.
Martin Hirst, the IDDT’s chief executive, said: “Providing teachers and school staff with the relevant information about diabetes and the best way to help pupils manage their condition while at school is vital.
“Many people do not understand the condition and the potential danger if it is not managed properly, which is why we urge all schools to take advantage of our free booklets and send off for them, because the information could really make all the difference to their pupils with Type 1 diabetes.
“The booklets look at the practical side of managing diabetes, as well the emotional effect it can have on everyone involved. The aim is to minimise the impact living with the condition can have and help the children enjoy and thrive during their school career.”
- To order free copies of the publications, email martin@iddtinternational.org. You can also download Diabetes – What School Need to Know via http://bit.ly/1Rjjk2e