Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: One in 700 children of school age have diabetes. Children spend on average a quarter of their waking lives in school. It is important that children receive adequate support and supervision in school for the effective management of diabetes.

Aim: To evaluate the support given by the schools for lunch time insulin injections, from the perspective of parents of children with diabetes.

Methods: Questionnaire completed by direct interview of the parents during routine outpatient appointments from September 2009 to July 2010. All children in nurseries and primary schools were included in the study.

Results: Fourty seven children from 32 schools were included in the study. The mean age is 7.4 years and the mean duration of diabetes is 3 years. The mean HbA1c is 8.3%. Only 15% of the schools are willing to learn to administer insulin. 75% of the schools are willing to supervise the injections, if given education and support but not willing to take up the responsibility of administering the injections. 18% of children are able to continue lunch time injections only by parents going into school to give the injections or by children travelling home during lunch time. Overall, 53% of children are not having lunch time injections for various reasons but 16% of these children do not have lunch time injections purely due to lack of support in the school. All 5 preschool children are on basal bolus regime but anticipate problems when starting school.

Conclusions: At least 30% more children will be able to commence or continue lunch time injections if more provision is arranged at school. This could potentially improve glycaemic control, thereby reducing the risk of long term complications. Combined national and local initiatives to achieve this may be the best way forward.