Diabetes cannot be cured, but can be treated effectively. A child with diabetes is not expected to miss any more school due to illness …
SCHOOL
Your pupil __________________ has Type 1 insulin dependant diabetes This
means that the pancreas has stopped making the hormone insulin Insulin is
vital in the process of converting the food we eat into energy for our
bodies We all need energy to walk, run, sleep and grow Diabetes cannot
be cured, but can be treated effectively
Most children with diabetes require two or three insulin injections daily,
however increasingly some children may have four injections daily, which
would include one at school If this is the case the Diabetes Nurse
Specialists can be contacted to discuss arrangements for this lunchtime
injection
A child with diabetes is not expected to miss any more school due to
illness than any other child and should be able to take part in all the
usual activities A child with diabetes should be encouraged to take as
much exercise as any other child Exercise such as football, gym, dancing,
will usually require an extra carbohydrate based snack eg lucozade sport
or fruit juice before and during the exercise After strenuous exercise
they may also require an extra snack eg digestive biscuits or cereal
bars
It is important for a child with diabetes to eat
healthy They will need to
eat regular meals and snacks Every meal/snack should contain some
carbohydrate, for example, lunch should include potato, pasta, rice or
bread Most children will require a mid morning snack and at primary school
may require a mid afternoon snack This may include fruit, pancake, scone,
oat cereal bars or occasionally crisps School lunches are suitable for
children with diabetes A small portion of pudding, a yoghurt, fruit or
crackers and cheese will be suitable for a dessert It is however unhelpful
to offer second helpings
Your pupil may need to check the amount of glucose in their blood in
school This is a simple procedure involving the child washing their hands,
pricking their finger and placing the blood on to a monitoring device They
may carry a monitoring device at school Most children can carry out this
procedure by themselves In some cases the child may need assistance with
this and the Diabetes Nurses can be contacted to discuss arrangements for
this The ideal range for the blood glucose reading to be is between 4-
10mmol/l
Following a diagnosis of diabetes each child will attend hospital clinic
visits every 1-2 weeks until established then one
visit approximately every
3-4 months
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Pupil:
_______________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian 1: _______________________________________________________
Telephone Home: _______________________________________________________
Telephone Mobile: _______________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian 2: _______________________________________________________
Telephone Home: _______________________________________________________
Telephone Mobile: _______________________________________________________
IF THE PARENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AND ADVICE IS REQUIRED THE FOLLOWING
PEOPLE CAN BE CONTACTED
Diabetic specialist nurse: x
Dr X, paediatrician: x
Childrens Ward, StYs Hospital: x
BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING:
Target Range: ______________________________________________________
Times of tests:
______________________________________________________
Extra Tests:
______________________________________________________
HYPOGLYCAEMIA:
Usual Symptoms: _______________________________________________________
Alternative
treatment:
___________________________________________________________________
Meal/Snack Times:
___________________________________________________________________
To my teacher,
I have insulin dependent diabetes
I did not catch it from anyone, and you cannot catch it No one can
really be certain why I have it, but many people are trying to find the
reason why
Having diabetes means that the insulin making cells in my pancreas have
been destroyed, so I must inject insulin- 2 or more times a day for the
rest of my life
Insulin is the key that unlocks the cells to allow blood sugar to enter
and turn into energy We all need energy to live
I must eat regularly - 3 meals and 3 snacks a day My eating plan consists
of counted portions of carbohydrates like bread, fruit , potatoes, and
biscuits, some protein and a little fat
Exercise is very good for me However I need to remember to have an extra
snack beforehand Sometimes I may have to eat extra during gym
I need to balance my food, insulin and exercise to control my blood sugar
levels
I need to check my blood sugar frequently and I may even need to do this in
school
My blood sugars should be between 4 and 10 mmol/l
If it is
below 4, I may be pale, shaky, moody, tired or not able to
concentrate THIS IS A HYPO
To treat a hypo give me 3 glucose tablets OR 1/2 a cup of Lucozade,
followed with a biscuit, a snack or my lunch depending on the time
If in doubt treat me
Basic first aid in school
If I become very drowsy give me Glucogel or jam If I faint or have a fit
put me in the recovery position and telephone 999 - This rarely happens
and I will recover fully
At times my blood sugars may be a little high This makes me thirsty and go
to the toilet more often
If I am unwell at school please contact my parents or Diabetes Team
I am still the same person I am not sick, I can do anything as long as I
am well prepared I am not embarrassed to tell my friends, in fact it is
better if they know
My Nurse is:
My Dietitian is:
My Doctor is:
They can be contacted on 01343 567579
If the call is urgent please phone 01343 567579 or 543131 and switchboard
will contact us
with thanks to Yorkhill
Source:drwillem.com
