Your paediatric diabetes team is there to help you look after your child’s diabetes. Find out who’s in your team and what care to expect.
You should be introduced to your paediatric diabetes team as soon as possible after your child is diagnosed and they will explain what diabetes is and how it is treated. They should also discuss how diabetes might impact on your family’s life and offer emotional support to help you cope. Children’s diabetes teams vary but will usually include:
- a consultant paediatrician (or diabetologist) who will have a special expertise in diabetes and will take overall responsibility for your child’s diabetes care – you will continue to see your family GP for your child’s non-diabetes health needs, but anything diabetes related will usually be referred to the paediatrician
- a paediatric diabetes specialist nurse (PDSN) who’ll give diabetes advice and usually visit your home and child’s school
- a registered dietitian with training and/or experience of looking after children with diabetes who can advise you about your family’s food choices
- a child psychologist (or other counsellor) with experience in diabetes who can help you and your child deal with the emotional problems that sometimes arise after diagnosis – if one is not attached to your care team, you can be referred to one or to a therapist who will talk through issues with the family as a whole
- You and your child – you are the ones who will live with diabetes 24 hours a day so it’s important that you are involved in all decisions about your child’s care.
As your child gets older (usually over 12) they might also see:
- an optometrist who will deal with eye issues
- a chiropodist (or podiatrist) who will deal with any feet problems.
You will probably see them frequently in the first months after diagnosis, particularly your PDSN. Your team will teach you (and your child, if appropriate) everything you need to know about looking after diabetes. This might be as part of an education programme with other people or on a more individual basis – or a bit of both. Your team should also give you a contact number so that you can get in touch if you have a question between appointments or problems out of clinic hours.