We want to provide a safe, supportive environment for children and young people living with diabetes. This starts by offering support and education to their family, teachers and peers.

Support from your local Children and Young People’s Diabetes Team

Your local Children and Young People’s Diabetes Team comprises of Health Care Professionals especially trained in Children’s Diabetes and include paediatric diabetes specialist doctors, nurses, dietitians and psychologists.

Following diagnosis of Diabetes the local children’s diabetes team will:

  • Provide a bespoke education and support package for the child or young person and their family.

  • Invite you to attend clinic every three months, or more frequently if needed, where they will review how you are getting on and make suggestions to help.

  • Provide diabetes technology starts such as continuous glucose sensors and insulin pump therapy.

  • From the age of around 16 years, young people with diabetes are invited attend a Transition Diabetes Clinic. This clinic is staffed by a combination of the Children’s Diabetes Team and the Young Peoples Diabetes Service so that the young person can gradually move their care across to the Young People’s Diabetes Service which can help you up to the age of 25 years.

  • Provide telephone and face to face advice and support to help parents, carers, children and young people to self-manage their diabetes. They can review diabetes data virtually and make recommendations to help with blood glucose levels.

Support at home

Parents and carers can help children and young people manage their condition by:

  • helping monitor blood glucose levels

  • administering insulin

  • encouraging a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle

  • help with carbohydrate counting

  • ensuring attendance at appointments

  • establishing routines for medication

  • offering emotional support

Support at school

Your local Children and Young People’s Diabetes Team will work in partnership with the child or young person, parents or carers and school to provide diabetes advice, guidance and training. The team will complete an Individual Health Care Plan for use in school.

Becoming independent

As young people grow in independence, helping them navigate new experiences while managing diabetes is especially important.

This could include:

  • managing diabetes in social settings

  • starting higher education

  • leaving home

  • starting work

Support for children and young people with diabetes

Peer support within your local community

Local support groups

Healthier Together

This website provides advice for parents, young people and pregnant women, and clinical resources to support healthcare professionals – which means that your child is likely to receive consistently high-quality care, irrespective of which healthcare professional they see.

Diabetes UK

Diabetes UK have a wealth of information and knowledge to help you navigate supporting your child living with diabetes.