As part of World Diabetes Day, Trinity School in Frome has been working with a group of student from Frome College to raise awareness and understanding of diabetes.
“Having recently welcomed a child with type 1 diabetes into Trinity First School, we were delighted to be joined by the college students who also live with type 1 diabetes,” said headteacher Amanda Seager. “The students were brilliant at explaining what it means and how they manage the condition, especially at school.
“Our young students had lots of questions, which were answered patiently, and everybody (staff and pupils alike) felt much better-informed after the visit. These included –
- “How do you get diabetes? Can you catch it from someone else or spread it if you have it?”
- “Can you eat sweets?”
- “What does it feel like to have diabetes?”
- “Why are there two types of diabetes?”
- “Why can’t they make diabetes go away completely?”
- Why does diabetes make you feel hungry, thirsty and need the toilet?”
The three Year 12 students from Frome College, Grace Perry, Mackenzie Pearce and Olivia Kusznerko, all said that they found the experience incredibly rewarding. “We all felt pleased that we could help to raise awareness of both Type One and Type 2 diabetes and to explain both the dangers and warning signs to the children,” added Grace.
“It was important to celebrate World Diabetes Day as we have a pupil with type 1 diabetes,” added Amanda. “Through reading stories and having the college students visiting, it has helped to raise awareness amongst children and staff about diabetes and how it affects people. The children have been very inquisitive when they have seen sweets being given and a phone being used, so we wanted to explain why only one child is given sweets and the purpose of the phone monitoring blood glucose levels and being connected to a pump to deliver insulin.
“The children definitely have an understanding of diabetes and they continued to have lots of questions throughout the day.”