Daniel lobbies MPs for better school support for diabetes

A MINEHEAD youngster was among more than 200 children and young people who were today lobbying of Parliament to ask MPs to improve support for pupils with diabetes in schools.
Daniel Mote, aged 12, travelled to London as part of a group of 36 youths from the Westcountry to join the Diabetes UK lobby.
The leading health charity is expecting at least 100 MPs to attend the lobby to hear about the inequalities in support for children with diabetes at school.
Although some children are excellently supported to manage their diabetes at school, others are not so lucky.
Some face a heart-breaking struggle, including no access to snacks during class, not being allowed on school trips, and being kept out of lessons unnecessarily.
This can have a directly damaging effect on their quality of life and education, as well as health.
Diabetes UK South West regional manager Jan Tyrrell said: “For every child with diabetes who does not receive appropriate support at school, a whole family suffers.
“We already know that the health and well-being of 83 per cent of children with diabetes is in jeopardy because they are not achieving recommended blood glucose levels, and we must do everything we can to help them.
“Schools have a vital role to play in changing this frightening statistic - and with an estimated 2,000 children being diagnosed with type one diabetes every year in the UK, action must be taken now.
“Diabetes is a serious condition that, if not managed effectively, can lead to long-term complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and amputation.
“Short-term complications of the condition include hypoglycaemic episodes, known as ‘hypos’, can lead to unconsciousness and hospitalisation if left untreated.
“However, effective diabetes management from the time of diagnosis can reduce the risk of these complications.
“This is why giving children the right support to control their condition from an early age is vital to protect their short- and long-term health.
“The Government needs to ensure that pressure comes from the top down to implement existing legislation so local authorities, primary care trusts and schools can work together to have effective policies in place to support children with diabetes – and actually adhere to them.
“Inspections and monitoring will play a vital part in this.
“It is appalling that some children with diabetes in the South West are not getting the support they need to live a full school life.”
To coincide with last week’s World Diabetes Day, Diabetes UK released ‘Making all Children Matter’, a report which looks at the current situation for children with diabetes in schools in England and what needs to be done to ensure they have the same opportunities as every other child.
A copy of the report can be downloaded at www.diabetes.org.uk/makingallchildrenmatter.

Free session for hospital trust members on preventing and controlling diabetes

A FREE one-hour meeting for Musgrove Park Hospital Foundation Trust members is being held to look at the prevention and control of diabetes.
It is part of the ‘Medicine for Members’ series and is for staff and public members of the Foundation Trust.
The session on Tuesday, November 4, will be an opportunity to hear experts from the trust give advice and information on the latest research and evidence on a key issue of health interest.
Consultant physician and endocrinologist Dr Colin Close will present on the subject of ‘managing the diabetes epidemic’.
He will look at the latest medical evidence and lifestyle advice which can benefit everybody, explaining what people need to do, and need to stop doing, to prevent and control diabetes.
Information about the latest drugs and other treatments will be available.
The meeting starts at 7 pm in Musgrove’s Academy Lecture Theatre.
There will be an opportunity for questions and the meeting will end at 8 pm with a free wine and nibbles buffet.
Only 30 places remain available and any Foundation Trust member who wants to attend should book a place as soon as possible by emailing jo.wakefield@tst.nhs.uk or calling 01823 342460 and leaving a message.
Joining the Foundation Trust is free and allows an opportunity to have a say in the future of the hospital.
Members receive regular newsletters from the hospital, invitations to exclusive meetings, consultations, and focus groups, and an opportunity to take part in elections for the members’ council.
The members’ council has a majority of publicly elected members and makes key decisions about the future of Musgrove Park.
To join, contact the membership office on 01823 342460 or fill in the online form available at www.tsft.nhs.uk.