school trip

[mattys parents]

Hi every body,

We are new to the community and are just finding our way around the site, but we are finding it very useful.

We have a 9 yr old Son who has just been diagnosed with type 1 ( 2 weeks ago)

As you know its a massive shock for all the family and we are finding it difficult at the moment but we know we will get through it.

We have a quick question to ask.....we have just been told by our sons school that every time he leaves the site for day trips or the swimming baths he will need to have a parent or guardian with him ? Its OK present while he is in year 4 but I'm sure he wont want his mam & dad tagging along as he gets to years 5+6. His diabetes nurse has informed us that she knows of no other school in our town or neighbouring town requiring this.

Thanks for any advice.

Mel & Dawn

 

[daisy1]

Hi Mel and Dawn - welcome to the Forum There is a wealth of information on here and you might find it useful to use the search facility to look for specific things you are interested in. Since Matty has only just been diagnosed I think you might find this information useful. It was compiled by the Forum Monitors.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS.

Postby sugarless sue » 02 Oct 2010, 17:49
Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l........(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals....... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Sue/Ken.

 

[leggott]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

My children are a little younger than your son, so I have normally gone on the school trips (if they have been a full day out and been quite a way from the school). My daughter when she was 6 did go on some sports events at a local school without me, but the Head of the school was present and she was the one who wAs in charge of over seeing my daughters injections at school.

I'm sure that as they get more accustomed to his needs they won't expect you there on every trip. They are probably just a little unsure because he is newly diagnosed. I know that in my case my kids would still have gone on their trips even if i had not been able to help.

 

[ams162]

hi and welcome my son is in the same school year as ur son and this year he went on a 3 day residential it killed me that he was away as never been apart that long before but he went and went alone.

the teachers were well briefed and had provided a menu so i could carb count before he went which helped loads, they did consider me going but wanted to avoide it if at all possible as hes getting older and wants some independence. however when he went swimming i did go and watch as they have so many children to watch it was for mine and the teachers peace of mind but he goes on running meets and goes alone to those.

i guess it depends really how confident the teacher is and if he needs to do injections while away and if he can inject himself, dylan teacher is fab and the only reason i let him go on the residential was because she was going

anna marie