There are 2 types of diabetes, type 1 and

type 2
This guide talks about type 1 diabetes and how it is developed.

• Type 1 diabetes usually happens to young people.
• You don’t catch diabetes, it isn’t a bug. You ‘develop’ diabetes.
• When doctors find someone has type 1 diabetes, this is called being diagnosed.
• People with type 1 diabetes are usually diagnosed when they are under 10, but can happen at any age
• Type 1 diabetes happens when the body does not produce enough insulin. This means that glucose produced in the breakdown of food (digestion) stays in the blood.
• Following diagnosis with type 1 diabetes, the body requires insulin injections, or insulin using an insulin pump.
• Insulin injections are usually done after breakfast, and after supper. However, this changes depending on the patient and the insulin used.
• Some insulin lasts for a short time, and some lasts for a long time. But your doctor will tell you all about that.

Type 1 diabetes is a condition that need to be managed. Read about

managing type 1 diabetes

New words to remember:



Type 1 diabetes, Diagnosed, insulin injections, insulin pump

Having diabetes doesn’t mean you have to stop travelling. Instead, it just means you have to be prepared when you do go travelling.

• Diabetes does not stop young people from travelling, whether they are going on the bus to school or taking their first trip alone as they grow up.
• However there are a number of key rules to remember to make sure travel and diabetes go smoothly together.
  
  
• Packing bags needs careful forethought. Testing equipment such as blood glucose meters, test strips and other medication should be packed in hand luggage, alongside a doctor’s note. International flights often have a 100ml liquid limit, and this needs to be considered.
• Depending on the duration of travel, it can be a good idea to develop a treatment plan with a healthcare professional.
• Regular testing before, during and after travel can help keep an eye on the impact on diabetes management.
• Travel to hot climates or exhausting activities such as hiking means that normal precautions need to be take, such as drinking plenty of water. Glucose tablets or glucose gel should also be carried.
• When travelling abroad, it is sensible to pack lots of medication and test strips, as purchasing in a foreign country may be difficult, or unsafe.
• Before travelling, discuss with healthcare professionals.

Not all of your friends and teachers at school will know as much as you do about diabetes so you should let your school know and be prepared for when you’re at school.

• Your school should help you with diabetes. You should have a safe place to keep emergency insulin, and your school should give you somewhere private to test blood glucose and use insulin injections.
• Your school may need to understand diabetes themselves, and they might even ask you questions about it. Doctors and nurses can tell your school more about diabetes.
• Young people with diabetes should be able to eat snacks, whether they are in the middle of a lesson or not.
• Young people with diabetes should be allowed to go to the toilet whenever they need to, without any questions.
• People in the school should know how to recognise and treat hypoglycaemia.
• Taking part in sports or gym should be possible, but adequate precautions should be taken and blood glucose levels should be monitored.

New words to remember:



Emergency insulin, test blood glucose in private, eat snacks, toilet pass, treat hypoglycaemia

This page will tell you about what happens when you have diabetes. Diabetes can even happen to animals like dogs and cats.

• Food powers our bodies. When we eat food it turns into glucose. This happens in our liver and gut. We use this glucose for energy.
• To make this happen, we use enzymes that come from our pancreas.
• Cells in the pancreas like little islands are called ‘islets’ and these make something called insulin.
• Our body uses insulin to move glucose from the cell walls, into our cells.
• Diabetes happens when there is not enough insulin to help the glucose turn into energy. This makes people feel sick.
• Diabetes can happen to small people, big people, and even dogs and cats!

There are 2.5 million people in the UK, so you are sure to know someone who has diabetes and there are lots of way you can help.

• Helping your friends who have diabetes is very important. There are lots of ways you can help your friend who has diabetes.
• You shouldn’t share sweets and sugar without permissio, and make sure he or she eats healthy food regularly.
• You should keep quiet about it if he or she doesn’t want everyone to know. Your teacher will know.
• You should help him or her to play sport and exercise.
• You should understand that diabetes can make him or her seem quite grumpy.
• You should recognise the signs of high and low blood sugar.

New words to remember:



Helping friends, keeping quiet, helping sport, understanding, recognising

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Type 2 diabetes can happen at any age and is usually managed by eating the right foods and keeping active.

• Type 2 diabetes usually happens to older people, but some young people and children can develop type 2 diabetes.
• Type 2 diabetes happens when the body isn’t making enough insulin, or when insulin resistance has built up. This makes the insulin have a weaker effect on removing glucose from the blood.
• Type 2 diabetes can happen at any age, and it is just as serious as type 1 diabetes.
• Type 2 diabetes is managed by diet and exercise in some cases. This is called diabetes management.
• However, diabetes medication and insulin are used in more serious type 2 diabetes cases.

New words to remember:



Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, diabetes management, diabetes medication

Having diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t still do whatever you want to do. Your dreams can still come true.

• Diabetes won’t stop you making your dreams come true.
• Having diabetes should not interfere with life plans, just as it shouldn’t interfere with sport.
• Just look at many brilliant people who have diabetes. Actors, musicians, professional football players, teachers, doctors and people everywhere who have diabetes and don’t let it stand in their way.
• Understanding is the key to not letting diabetes interfere with your life.
• If you learn to manage diabetes well using a combination of diet, exercise and medication/insulin you can lead a long, happy life.

New words to remember:



Life plans, Understanding diabetes, manage diabetes, diet and exercise

You may have heard the word diabetes before. This page explains what diabetes is and how food, insulin and glucose are all related.

• Diabetes is linked to digesting food, especially something called carbohydrates
• When food is digested, something called glucose goes into your blood. Blood is the red stuff that comes out when you cut yourself, and it powers the whole body.
• A type of hormone called Insulin is then released to absorb the leftover glucose.
• If you have type 1 diabetes, your body doesn’t produce insulin
• If you have type 2 diabetes, your body doesn’t produce enough insulin
• Diabetes is a very common condition that affects millions of people
• Learning about how to manage diabetes is the key to being healthy, fit and strong

New words to remember:



Glucose, Insuli, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes

People often ask why they have diabetes. The truth is that the reason you develop diabetes is very complex and can be affected by your genes or lifestyle.

• No one knows why some children have type 1 diabetes, and some people do not.
• The reasons for developing diabetes are very complex, and even clever scientists in white coats don’t understand them yet.
• Type 1 diabetes happens partly because of your genes. Not your jeans! When these genes combine with an infection, diabetes can happen.
• Diabetes isn’t like colds and flu, you can’t catch it.
• Having diabetes is nobody’s fault.

New words to remember:



Developing diabetes, genes, infection

You can be a diabetes expert with our diabetes facts. Don’t forget to share them with your friends and family so they know about diabetes too!

General diabetes facts

• There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2, although there are lots of other less common types
• Type 1 diabetes is sometimes called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes
• 
  Type 1 diabetes
  
  is managed using insulin injections or an insulin pump
• About 9 out of 10 adults with diabetes have type 2 diabetes
• 
  Type 2
  
  used to be called non-insulin dependent diabetes, although some require insulin to control their blood sugars
• Type 2 diabetes is managed by diet, exercise and sometimes medication.
• We are living in exciting times. Now we know that people can make type 2 diabetes better. Some people have been able to come off medication and become really healthy.

Diabetes in the UK

• Millions of people in the UK have diabetes
• In the UK, the NHS gives people free healthcare for people with diabetes. That’s a wonderful gift for people with this condition.

Diabetes worldwide

• Diabetes affects around 400 million adults worldwide – that’s a lot of people that share this condition!
• In some countries getting insulin for diabetes is a real struggle.n
• Even in a very rich country like the USA, some people cannot afford insulin.
• China is the country with the most people with diabetes.

Diabetes history

• 
  World Diabetes Day
  
  is on November 14th every year
• Diabetes was given its name by the Greek Physician Aretaeus (30-90CE), but the history of the disease can be dated back to ancient Egypt!
• Diabetes was given its name by an ancient Greek doctor but the history of diabetes can be dated further back to ancient Egypt.
• The first insulin injection to someone was given to a boy in Canada in 1921 – a truly lifechanging moment!

Random diabetes facts

• Diabetes doesn’t have to prevent you from achieving your dreams. Prime Minister
  
  Theresa May
  
  has type 1 diabetes
• Many
  
  celebrities
  
  and sportspeople have diabetes

School needn’t be a nightmare for your child. Many children with

type 1 diabetes, and other types of diabetes, have sailed through school without hassle.

Communication is key to ensuring your child is well supported through school. You should work with your school to ensure they know what support your child needs.

If your child can maintain reasonably good blood glucose control, this will likely benefit their ability to achieve good grades and prosper socially.

Ensuring your child has the right diabetes care at school

Your child’s school needs to be

aware that your child has diabetes
as well as what care your child will need in school. It is best to have an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP) drawn up to detail all the important information about your child’s diabetes including how the child will manage their diabetes and what support they need to do this.

The school should be aware of your child’s testing and treatment needs and should be informed as to how to act should your child have

too low or too high blood sugar levels

Your child’s paediatric

diabetes specialist nurse
can help you and the school with drawing up the Individual Healthcare Plan.

Under the Equality Act 2010, children with diabetes in the UK should not be put at a significant disadvantage to other children.

Recently, within England, the Children and Families Act 2014 was passed which ensures that schools have a legal duty to support children with medical conditions such as diabetes.

Other acts and guidance also exist to support children with diabetes and these vary between the different countries of the UK.

Diabetes and physical education (PE)

If your child’s blood sugar is in a normal range, there’s usually no reason why they shouldn’t take part in

sports

Make sure your child’s physical education teacher is aware of the instances (such as low or very high sugar levels) in which it is not safe for them to continue to take part in physical activity.

Their teacher should also allow your child to take time out to

do a blood test
when they need to.

Be aware though that if your child does not enjoy sports in general, they may use a high or low blood sugar as an excuse not to take part.

Snacks, testing and injections at school

If your child needs to do blood tests or have snacks at certain times, the school should recognise and make allowances for this. Your child should have appropriate facilities available to use to perform blood tests and injections.

This should not be the toilets. Discuss with the school how your child will be able to manage their blood sugar during exams.

Diabetes and school absence

Your school should recognise that there may be times when your child will be absent from school. This could be a result of clinic appointments or it could be related to an instance of high or low blood sugar.

If your child’s blood sugar control is relatively well controlled, these absences should be relatively rare.

Bullying and diabetes

Sadly anything that makes a child stand out can make them a target for bullies. Bullying should not be tolerated and the school should take measures to ensure steps are taken to prevent the bullying.

Diabetes and school trips

Children with diabetes should not be excluded from school trips on account of their diabetes. If your child needs help with managing their diabetes, someone should attend the trip that can provide this support.

Staff on the trip should be aware of your child’s diabetes and know how to respond to hypos or emergencies.

A risk assessment, carried out in good time before the trip, is recommended to help ensure that your child’s diabetes is well accommodated for the trip or

travel

Diabetes has quite large emotional implications for children. The physiology of diabetes itself can affect emotions as can the continual day-i, day-out diabetes routine.

Recognising the issues and being able to cut the right amount of slack can help in dealing with any emotional upheaval.

Diabetes and depression in children

Diabetes and depression have been closely linked.

Feeling different from others, never having a break from the diabetes routine, worries about the future and difficulty maintaining control can all lead to feeling down and, if this develops over  time, to

depression

As a first course of action make time to speak with your child and ask them how they feel.

It could be a prickly issue so pick a good time to ask. Be prepared that your child may apportion some blame for their mood on you so be willing to discuss why they feel this way.

Diabetic children and aggression

Diabetes is a frustrating condition and frustrations can build up over time.

Aggressive reactions to high and low blood sugars are common.

High blood sugars make you feel awful and

low blood sugars
can inhibit the brain from managing aggressive feelings so well.

Your child should be made aware that aggression should not be tolerated, but be prepared to cut just a little more slack than you might otherwise. Read more about

hypoglycemia and emotions

My child is not looking after his or her control

It is not uncommon for a child to rebel against controlling their blood sugar and so it may be worthwhile making extra time to connect with your child and discern what the root issues may be.

See more on

managing your child’s diabetes

The effect of diabetes on siblings

If your diabetic child has brothers and sisters, they may feel at times like their diabetic sibling is getting more care and attention.

This can make matters difficult as a child with diabetes usually needs extra time and care so evening the balance for one more brothers or sisters could be something of an impossible task.

Try however to make sure that any treats or benefits your diabetic child receives are at least occasionally mirrored for their siblings so they don’t feel too left out.

Conversely, your diabetic child may feel that their brothers or sisters have more freedom and opportunities than them so there can be two sides to the problem.

If you’re finding it hard to strike the right balance, why not ask other parents how they deal with the issue on our

diabetes forum for parents and children

In most cases it will usually be best to tell your children, at some point, about your type 1 diabetes.

Children are often curious and may need reassurance that you’re ok so they feel safe themselves.

Benefits of explaining your diabetes

There are a number of benefits of explaining your diabetes to your children.

• If you develop complications or complications worse, it may be easier to explain if they are already aware of your diabetes.
• Your children will have a better understanding of any emotions you show either directly or indirectly as a result of your diabetes.
• Your children may be able to help if you experience a short term complications such as
  
  hypoglycemia
  or
  
  ketoacidosis

If you show signs of anxiety or frustration, it can help for your children to know why so they don’t think they’ve done something wrong. It is quite common for children to assume blame if they don’t understand the true reason for a parents anger.

Disadvantages of explaining your diabetes

Generally, honesty is the best policy but there could be some down sides to consider when explaining

type 1 diabetes
to your children. You’ll want to explain your diabetes in a way they’ll understand and in such a way as to not to cause them excessive worry.

It is possible that your child may become upset at hearing you have an illness. In the majority of cases, after showing some initial worry children should quickly come to accept the news well.

When is the best age to tell your child about your diabetes?

A good guide of the best time to tell you your child about your diabetes is when they start asking questions about it. It can be a good idea though to explain your diabetes before they reach primary school.

It is generally a good idea to have your diabetes in the open, that is to carry out

blood tests
and some injections with your child present so they recognise this as a normal part of life.

This way, when your child is ready to ask why you are injecting, you can let them know.

How can I explain what diabetes is?

There are a few ways you may wish to explain diabetes to your child in a simple way.

“There is part of the body called the pancreas which is inside us close to the stomach. My

pancreas
has got damaged and it means I can’t get energy from the food I eat unless I take injections of this fluid called insulin. When the pancreas is not working fully like this, it’s called diabetes.

If I don’t take insulin, or don’t take enough, too much sugar goes into my blood and without insulin it can’t get used up for energy. I have to take just the right amount of insulin though, because if I take too much, I don’t have enough sugar in my blood and that also leaves me with very little energy. So the insulin I take each day helps to keep me healthy.”

Answering “Will I need to inject some day?”

This can be tough question as it we’d like to be able to give a definite no but it is possible that your children may develop type 1 diabetes as it is statistically a bit more likely in children of parents with type 1 diabetes.

You may want to answer with: “It’s hard to know what will happen to us. It’s more likely that you won’t have diabetes.”

You could also add: “I was upset when I first knew I had diabetes, but I soon got used to it.”

It can be helpful to be honest about a possible risk in case your child does go on to develop diabetes but you’ll want to explain things in such a way so as not to frighten your son or daughter.

• Read more:
  
  Genetic likelihood of inheriting diabetes

If you are diagnosed with

type 2 diabetes, you will have the choice about whether and when you let your children know about your diabetes.

Particularly if your diabetes is controlled with

lifestyle changes
or certain tablets, there may not be a need as such to let your children know about your diabetes but there are some benefits in letting your sons or daughters know.

Benefits of telling your children

Children tend to be perceptive and can sense even if they can’t always understand small signs of

emotion
By telling your children about your diabetes, you will enable them to understand and take into account any times your diabetes may be causing you difficulty or concern.

If you are at risk of low blood glucose levels, it’s usually a good idea to tell your children. See our guide on

explaining hypos to younger children

Disadvantages of telling your children

A potential disadvantage of telling your children about your diabetes is if it causes them excessive anxiety. It’s best to avoid times your children are stressed or upset in case the news is taken badly at these times.

It will help to tell your children at a time when they are in a good position to take in your

diagnosis
as well as when you are also comfortable in discussing your diabetes.

Some of us may prefer to keep our diabetes private. If telling your children about your diabetes may lead to too many people knowing about your diabetes you may choose not to discuss your diabetes with your children or at least wait until a time you feel more comfortable.

When to tell your children?

It very much comes down to personal choice and your own circumstances as to when to tell your children you have diabetes.

Some people will prefer to let their family know as soon as they’ve been diagnosed whereas others may want to wish to wait until they’ve come to terms with the diagnosis before telling others.

The age of your children may also be a factor in when you tell them about your diabetes. If you have young children, you may prefer to tell them when they ask questions, which may include asking why you take tablets or

insulin

Explaining type 2 diabetes to young children

I have diabetes which means my blood has

too much sugar in it
When you eat, the food you have gives you energy but my diabetes makes it harder for my body to turn the food I eat into energy.

I have to be careful to eat the right kind of food and the right amounts to make sure my body can cope properly with turning the food into energy.

If you take insulin, you can explain that insulin is a fluid produced in the body that helps turn the food we eat into energy. You can explain that you take insulin because your body doesn’t make enough insulin to get the full amount of energy from the food you eat.

Answering whether your child will get diabetes too

In most cases, type 2 diabetes usually comes on later in life so, in most cases, your child needn’t overly worry about diabetes coming on within their childhood. In some cases,

type 2 diabetes can affect children
but this is rare and usually only occurs in very overweight children.

There is a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes if a parent has it but it is by no means a certainty. You may want to let your child know that they could get diabetes but that it usually only comes later into adult life and that it can be controlled and doesn’t have to stop you enjoying life.

Once upon a time, type 2

diabetes

was regarded as an adult disease, even earning the alias: ‘adult-onset

diabetes

’

Nowadays, however, type 2

diabetes

affects more young people than ever before.

The reasons for this are manifold; some of them are detailed below and in other areas of Diabetes.co.uk. Working out the risks of type 2

diabetes

amongst children, and how to avoid them, could make all the difference to the

health

of your child.

Being overweight is the major risk factor, and can be a dangerous cause of a number of other diseases including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The following tips could help you keep your kids free from

diabetes

Limit inertia

• Keeping kids occupied without leaving them to vegetate could save their lives. Limiting television watching, video games, and other sedentary activities could make a real difference. Look for creative, stimulating pastimes with as much physical
  
  exercise
  
  and outdoor play as possible. Parents can try a barter system of minutes outdoors for time on the sofa.

Team game

• Giving the whole family a chance to participate in team games can really encourage kids to get involved. Being even slightly overweight can make a huge difference to a child’s confidence. Individual
  sports
  may help to build confidence.

Household responsibility

• Although most children find chores repetitive and dull, some of the more active ones can be useful in avoiding
  
  diabetes
  
  and keeping children active. Getting kids up and moving around makes a real difference, and teaching them responsibility is an added bonus.

Avoid junk, eat well

• Most children love snacks, and teaching your children good eating habits makes all the difference between being healthy and not.
  
  Healthy
  
  snacks are not too expensive or hard to buy, and provides more for your growing children, helping them to avoid becoming diabetic.

Be inspirational

• Inspiring your children through your own actions is the key to giving them the most
  
  diabetes
  
  risk-free life possible. Do it together, as a team, and make good health last for a whole lifetime.

This Diabetes.co.uk list of tips to help your children avoid

diabetes

is by no means exhaustive. Develop your own strategies based on your individual needs and situation, and the advice of a healthcare professional.

Welcome to the kids’ section of Diabetes.co.uk, where you can learn about diabetes but also have some fun as well!

This section will hopefully answer any questions you may have, while you can find loads of downloads and posters for your school, bedroom, or anywhere else you want to put them.

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