Some kids diagnosed with Type 1 have a really rough time: “The teacher confiscated my test kit thinking it was a mobile phone and did not give it back until the end of the lesson.” Said Charlotte, 14 Charlotte has had Type for two years and she paints a picture of a society misinformed and ignorant to the difficulties of living with the life-changing illness.
Feeling too shy to test or inject in public and forbidden from eating in class meant that Olivia’s health suffered at school and she frequently experienced hypos and hypers. She felt overwhelmed by the enormity of managing her medical condition and last January she gave up taking her insulin with a devastating effect. I’I was rushed to hospital during a sleep over at my friends house. I had not injected for a very long time and I was very ill. My um was beside herself’
Today, Charlotte is happy with her condition and is able to cope. Part of the reason for this is a set of workshops she attended with other Type 1 teens. The film workshops focussed on creating a selection of informative videos on life as a diabetic teenager. But as Deb Snow founder of Actionmedia which ran the workshops explained, ‘It was really a pretext to get them all together and find peer support through fellow diabetics, solace, comfort, and new ideas for tacking the day to day management – it can be life changing’
“Whilst health care professionals play a key role in providing key advice and medicine, the benefits of peer to peer support cannot be overstated. By sharing stories and experiences you can let off steam and also learn ways in which others manage their condition which has a positive impact on your physical health. Moreover, talking with individuals with the same condition reminds you that you are not alone and that it is possible to live a normal life.”
The films made by the teens focus on the daily life of a diabetic. One film demonstrates the benefits of dog walking as a form of exercise that brings your levels down, in another Olivia is joined by Kirsty aged 14 as they film a shopping trip in which they talk us through the various foods/ drinks they cannot eat. In the middle of the week the group head off for a gluttonous afternoon tea where they are presented with a stack of sandwiches and cakes to gorge on. Again the whole afternoon is filmed and the young diabetics show how their condition affects the most simplest of affairs. The most part of their afternoon tea is packed up and taken home to snack on later as the carbohydrate content.
The workshops will not be a one off but the plan is to meet regularly so that the relationships are cemented and the support network is strengthened. Kirsty said. ‘When I meet another Type 1 I instantly feel a connection. They understand like no one else. I loved spending my half term with my new diabetic friends. One girl, Fran has had the condition for two years and never met another Type 1. ‘They all look normal,. ‘ she said quietly and with relief.
Short head and shoulders pieces were made by the participants where they explored their experience of school;. A number of themes are recurrent, like Charlotte each of the 7 young people have had their test kits confiscated at least once by teachers believing them to be mobile phones. A few of the teens struggled to fight the stigma attached to injecting in a public place such as school with one girl leaving her school because of bullying. It is clear that on the whole there is a lack of understanding or support from schools which can lead pupils to feeling isolated and stigmatised.
Abby who has had diabetes for 9 years describes why being a diabetic teenager at school can be particularly problematic.
“Its simple things like when I’m having a hypo or hyper, it changes my mood and I can become grumpy, tired and generally find it hard to focus. Teachers don’t seem to be aware that I’m not just being a moody teenager but that I need go out and test.”
After much lobbying from Diabetes UK and other charities, the government has finally agreed to bring in a legal duty that requires schools to provide more support to pupils suffering from long term health conditions. This amendment to the Children and Families Bill will be accompanied by statutory guidance which will help schools understand what they need to do and how to do it. The new measures will not only affect the 15,000 pupils with type 1 diabetes but also those who have other health conditions including epilepsy and asthma. One million children and young people with long term health needs are set to benefit from the new measures. If you watch the videos made by these youngsters this move is not a moment too soon.
Kirsty summarises her feelings at the end of the week:
“It was great to meet other diabetics like myself. I’ve made new friends and learned a new skill all whilst helping other people learn more about my condition. I want my teachers to see the films. I want my family and friends to see the films. I want everyone to see the films.
I want everyone to understand.”
“And I can’t wait until we meet again. ’
(Some of the names have been changed)
Take a look at the films below
Ollie
Abby
Kirsty
Dog walking and diabetes by the students
Shopping for teenage Type 1s
Feeling too shy to test or inject in public and forbidden from eating in class meant that Olivia’s health suffered at school and she frequently experienced hypos and hypers. She felt overwhelmed by the enormity of managing her medical condition and last January she gave up taking her insulin with a devastating effect. I’I was rushed to hospital during a sleep over at my friends house. I had not injected for a very long time and I was very ill. My um was beside herself’
Today, Charlotte is happy with her condition and is able to cope. Part of the reason for this is a set of workshops she attended with other Type 1 teens. The film workshops focussed on creating a selection of informative videos on life as a diabetic teenager. But as Deb Snow founder of Actionmedia which ran the workshops explained, ‘It was really a pretext to get them all together and find peer support through fellow diabetics, solace, comfort, and new ideas for tacking the day to day management – it can be life changing’
“Whilst health care professionals play a key role in providing key advice and medicine, the benefits of peer to peer support cannot be overstated. By sharing stories and experiences you can let off steam and also learn ways in which others manage their condition which has a positive impact on your physical health. Moreover, talking with individuals with the same condition reminds you that you are not alone and that it is possible to live a normal life.”
The films made by the teens focus on the daily life of a diabetic. One film demonstrates the benefits of dog walking as a form of exercise that brings your levels down, in another Olivia is joined by Kirsty aged 14 as they film a shopping trip in which they talk us through the various foods/ drinks they cannot eat. In the middle of the week the group head off for a gluttonous afternoon tea where they are presented with a stack of sandwiches and cakes to gorge on. Again the whole afternoon is filmed and the young diabetics show how their condition affects the most simplest of affairs. The most part of their afternoon tea is packed up and taken home to snack on later as the carbohydrate content.
The workshops will not be a one off but the plan is to meet regularly so that the relationships are cemented and the support network is strengthened. Kirsty said. ‘When I meet another Type 1 I instantly feel a connection. They understand like no one else. I loved spending my half term with my new diabetic friends. One girl, Fran has had the condition for two years and never met another Type 1. ‘They all look normal,. ‘ she said quietly and with relief.
Short head and shoulders pieces were made by the participants where they explored their experience of school;. A number of themes are recurrent, like Charlotte each of the 7 young people have had their test kits confiscated at least once by teachers believing them to be mobile phones. A few of the teens struggled to fight the stigma attached to injecting in a public place such as school with one girl leaving her school because of bullying. It is clear that on the whole there is a lack of understanding or support from schools which can lead pupils to feeling isolated and stigmatised.
Abby who has had diabetes for 9 years describes why being a diabetic teenager at school can be particularly problematic.
“Its simple things like when I’m having a hypo or hyper, it changes my mood and I can become grumpy, tired and generally find it hard to focus. Teachers don’t seem to be aware that I’m not just being a moody teenager but that I need go out and test.”
After much lobbying from Diabetes UK and other charities, the government has finally agreed to bring in a legal duty that requires schools to provide more support to pupils suffering from long term health conditions. This amendment to the Children and Families Bill will be accompanied by statutory guidance which will help schools understand what they need to do and how to do it. The new measures will not only affect the 15,000 pupils with type 1 diabetes but also those who have other health conditions including epilepsy and asthma. One million children and young people with long term health needs are set to benefit from the new measures. If you watch the videos made by these youngsters this move is not a moment too soon.
Kirsty summarises her feelings at the end of the week:
“It was great to meet other diabetics like myself. I’ve made new friends and learned a new skill all whilst helping other people learn more about my condition. I want my teachers to see the films. I want my family and friends to see the films. I want everyone to see the films.
I want everyone to understand.”
“And I can’t wait until we meet again. ’
(Some of the names have been changed)
Take a look at the films below
Ollie
Abby
Kirsty
Dog walking and diabetes by the students
Shopping for teenage Type 1s
