## What Is Diabetes? Type 1 Diabetes

- This is where the amount of 
glucose (sugar) in the blood is too 
high because the body cannot use 
it properly. 
- This is because the pancreas does 
not make any. 
 

Insulin 
- Insulin is a hormone made 
by the pancreas. It helps 
us get energy from food 
and drink.  
- It allows glucose to enter 
the bodies cells where it is 
used for energy. 
- Glucose comes from 
digesting carbohydrate.     
It is also made by the liver. 
- People with Type 1 
diabetes do not make insulin, so the glucose 
stays in their blood.  
 

## Types Of Diabetes

- There are two main types of 
diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2 
- 90 per cent of all people with 
diabetes have Type 2. 
- But the vast majority (97 per cent) 
of children and young people with 
diabetes have Type 1. 
- This presentation will focus on 
Type 1 diabetes. 

## Signs Or Symptoms Of Type 1 Diabetes

- Toilet. 
- Thirsty. - Tired. 
- Thinner. 
 
Treating Type 1  
and Type 2 diabetes Needs regular insulin, four or five times a day. 

This may be managed by a healthy balanced diet and taking more exercise, but it may need tablets, or insulin and tablets.  

## Young People And Diabetes

- People who have Type 1 usually get it when they 
are children or young adults. There is nothing 
you can do to prevent it, and it is not caused by 
anything anyone has done. 
- It does not mean they are any different, and it 
does not stop them doing anything anyone else 
can do. 
- But they do need to do certain things to manage 
their Type 1 diabetes properly. 


## What Do Young People With Diabetes Have To Do

- Check blood glucose level regularly 
and note result. 
- Take insulin, either by using an 
'injector pen' or an insulin pump. 
- Eat a healthy balanced diet and get 
regular physical activity. 
- Visit their doctor or nurse regularly. 

## Testing Blood Glucose

- Children and young people with 
Type 1 diabetes will need to 
check their blood glucose levels 
several times a day, including at school. 
- Monitoring blood glucose levels 
is important as it checks blood glucose is at the right level. 
- It is important to keep blood 
glucose levels as close to target as possible to make sure the child or young person stays well 
in the short and long term.  

## Taking Insulin

- Insulin cannot be taken by mouth 
because it is a protein, and would 
be destroyed by the stomach acids. 
- It needs to be taken by an injection 
or insulin pump. 
- Injections are generally taken at 
each meal, plus in the evening and/or morning too. 
- An insulin pump is attached 24 
hours a day and insulin is given for meals and snacks. 

## Eating A Healthy Diet

- Young people with diabetes should 
eat a diet that is low in fat, salt and 
sugar, with at least five portions of 
fruit and vegetables a day - just like everyone else.  
- No food is forbidden.  
- Might need to eat at certain times 
throughout the day. 


## Physical Activity

- Young people with 
diabetes can do any 
type of sport. 
- They may need to have 
a snack before, during 
and after activity and 
change their insulin dose or where they inject their insulin. 

## Problems (Hypoglycaemia)

When blood glucose drops too low, this is called a hypo. This can be 
caused by: 
- Missed meal. - Not enough carbohydrate. 
- Unplanned exercise. 
- Too much insulin. - Sometimes no obvious cause. 

## Signs Of A Hypo

- Hunger. - Shakiness. - Mood change. - Clumsiness. - Pale. 
- Sweating. 
 

## How To Help

- Get them to stop activity and sit down. - Get them to check their blood glucose levels if they can. - If it is low, get them to eat/drink something sugary,        
like lucozade, dextrose sweets or jelly beans. 
- After 10–15 minutes, check blood glucose levels again.  
- If it is still low, have some more sugar 
- After 20–30 minutes, check blood glucose levels again 
to make sure it is ok.  
- Some children and young people need a snack after 
having a hypo, like fruit or biscuits.  
- Once their blood glucose levels are back to normal, 
they can resume activity. 
Problems (hyperglycaemia) 
This is when blood glucose level is too high, caused by: 
- Missed insulin. 
- Too much carbohydrate/sugary food. - Stress or illness. - Sometime no obvious cause. 
- Signs and symptoms include thirst, needing to 
pass urine frequently, tiredness, feeling sick. 
 
How to help 
- Check blood sugar level. - Drink plenty of water. - Take extra insulin. 
- Rest. 
 

## Long Term Health

- It is important to look after 
diabetes to make sure you 
stay healthy in the future. 
- Diabetes can make some 
health problems more likely 
when you're older. 
- Looking after it well makes 
that much less likely.  

## Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 Diabetes

- About 90 percent of people with diabetes have Type 2. - Usually develops in later life, but worryingly, there are an 
increasing number of young people with Type 2. 
- Symptoms are the same but develop gradually. - There is an increased risk of developing Type 2 if it is in 
your family, you are from BAME or you are overweight.  
- Type 2 diabetes is treated by keeping physically active, 
following a healthy balanced diet and keeping to a 
healthy weight.  
- But medication, including insulin, may be needed, too. 
- If your parents or grandparents have diabetes, it's likely 
to be Type 2 diabetes.  

## Summary

- It is important for people to look after 
diabetes to make sure they stay 
well, both in the short and long term. 
- Treatment helps to keep glucose 
levels as close to those of people 
without diabetes as possible. 
- Having diabetes does not stop 
people from doing anything their friends do and does not mean you can't be successful! 
 
 
What do these people have in common? 

THEY ALL HAVE DIABETES AND IT HASN'T STOPPED THEM               
BEING SUCCESSFUL!  

## And Finally…

1
Remember, people with diabetes are just like you, except for one small thing - they cannot produce 
their own insulin. 
2
People with diabetes can do everything you can do, they just might need to prepare a bit more. 
3
If you are worried about any aspect of your own 
health, talk to your doctor. 
4
We all need to eat healthy and get plenty of  
physical exercise. 


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