‘Nine out of 10 children with diabetes lack support at school’

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Rome, Sept 26 : Schools, where the children spend their maximum time of the day, are failing to assist children with diabetes control their disease, resulting in increased health problems among children and higher school dropout rates.

Nine out of 10 children cannot rely on a school nurse to assist them with their diabetes during school while six out of 10 children do not manage their disease successfully, according to an international study released recently at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) conference in Rome.

The DAWN Youth (Diabetes, Attitudes, Wishes and Needs) study conducted under the banner of International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) and the $ 7.8 billion global insulin major Novo Nordisk noted that indications are that children with diabetes drop out of school earlier than others.

The DAWN Youth survey that was carried out in 2007-08 focused on diabetes and its influence on the lives of children and young people with diabetes. The survey covered 9,200 respondents from 13 different countries.

"The situation for children with diabetes in school today is unacceptable. The risks that children face due to poor support in school environments are serious and life threatening. The conditions for children with diabetes in school can only be changed when parents, school staff and healthcare providers work together-each taking their part of the responsibility," said Professor Thomas Danne, secretary general of ISPAD.

The survey points out that if the blood sugar level is high or too low the child can feel ill, lose concentration or in worst case, suffer from an insulin shock.

Poorly regulated diabetes can, in the long run, lead to severe complications to the heart or kidneys. All this can easily be prevented by good and proper diabetes care and support.

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood and can strike children at any age. In addition, the survey highlights the lack of awareness and appropriate measures taken such as available school nurses or school staff to answer to the needs of children with diabetes. Each year, 70,000 new cases are reported worldwide in children aged 14 years and younger.