Teacher Jennifer found a successful school trip has inspired her to arrange many others.
I am a primary school teacher and work in a large junior school. We have four children currently at the school with Type 1 diabetes.
Last year a child in another class within my year group was diagnosed part of the way through the school year and it was nice to offer guidance to her mum who is a school governor. Giving help about what to expect from the child during this transition and how diabetes care events would benefit.
This year I have had a young girl in my class who is a type one diabetic amongst some other health conditions. We have been on a number of trips throughout the year to London and the local castle museum and also have planned to visit an organic farm next month.
The young girl was very anxious about our trip to London as were some other children yet it was her diabetes that was worrying her. We spent time going through the itinerary and how we would deal with any high blood sugars or hypos. By the time we went on our trip she was focused upon having fun rather than worrying about her diabetes. She is well aware that I am diabetic too and has told me on a number of occasions that she finds comfort in this.
Our school is very well organised in catering for these young people, where support and help is readily available without the children feeling singled out for their difference. Staff receive updated training each year from the local paediatric diabetic nurse who revisits the specifics for the children in our care. Changing from injections to an insulin pump in October 2013 also stemmed conversations with an older child in the school who has now moved to a pump too.
I have volunteered on child care events in the past and this recent work with a young diabetic has reinstalled my drive to help and so have signed up to help on the Castle Head care event again this year.
