Are you at a point of influence?

Are children with diabetes in your area getting
10 out of 10?

Diabetes UK have launched the Type 1 essentials for children and young people – a handy guide that outlines the basic care, checks and help they should receive. Over 85 per cent of children and young people over the age of 12 have blood glucose levels higher than recommended targets. Worryingly, only 6 per cent of children and young people with diabetes whose checks are being recorded are getting all the recommended care processes they are entitled to. And all too often, we hear of cases up and down the country of inconsistent and poor care.

You can highlight the Type 1 essentials guide to children’s diabetes teams so that they too are aware of the support that children with the condition in their care should be receiving, and are making families aware of the care they are entitled to.

Make sure that the healthcare professionals you work with are aware of the Type 1 essentials. You can ask them about whether all these services are currently being provided. You can also ask about ways that they can make sure that parents in your area are aware of the essentials. Could they send the guide out to all parents of children with diabetes in the area? What about including it in the information given out to newly diagnosed children?

The guide is free – email diabetesvoices@diabetes.org.uk or go to our online shop to order your copies.