Family joins campaign to improve diabetes care in school

Juliet Rudkin has joined up with Diabetes UK after it announced that it wanted people in West Berkshire to help by taking part in a consultation on how children with the condition should be supported in school.
The consultation will help to shape new guidance that is set to begin in September.
Mrs Rudkin knows the worry that having a child with diabetes can bring.
Her son, 10-year-old David (pictured right), who attends Francis Baily Primary School, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes about two years ago.
David is reliant on a pump that feeds him insulin 24-hours a day.
Soon after the diagnosis, a diabetes nurse was sent to the Skillman Drive school to train other members of staff to deal with a hypoglycaemic attack.
Mrs Rudkin said: “Leaving him with strangers to start with was terrifying as he has hypos several times a day.
“But from my point of view, we have been quite lucky because of the individuals at the school.”
She added that, thanks to the training, they knew what to do when David’s insulin pump wasn’t working and he had a serious hypo attack, but the training also meant that he could attend a residential trip.
Mrs Rudkin said that having David at Francis Baily made her realise how important it was that schools and staff are trained to deal with potentially life-threatening situations.
She said: “Schools need to have training for all chronic conditions.
“Two years down the line, I’m more experienced with diabetes, but for the first few weeks and months we were in a state of panic sending him off to school.”
“But very quickly the school put things into place. When I knew we had support, it made my life a lot easier.”
The south east regional manager for Diabetes UK, Jill Steaton, said: “At the moment, some parents and carers are telling us that their children are being refused help with their insulin or are refused a snack to help treat low blood sugar levels.
“In some cases parents have even had to go into the school to administer insulin.”
The consultation can be completed online until Friday, March 14, at www.education. gov.uk/consultations