Diabetes Week
10th-16th June 2024
Diabetes Week, which is observed annually in the UK, serves as a crucial way of raising awareness about diabetes and the impact it can have on individuals and communities. For schools and academies, Diabetes Week presents an opportunity to educate students about the health condition, promote a healthy lifestyle, and encourage empathy and inclusivity towards people living with diabetes.
Schools play a big role in promoting health and well-being among pupils, making them ideal platforms for raising awareness about diabetes. During Diabetes Week, schools can implement various initiatives and activities to help engage pupils and create a supportive environment for those impacted by diabetes.
Educational Workshops
Invite healthcare professionals or individuals living with diabetes to conduct educational workshops or give presentations for pupils and staff. Sessions like this could help raise awareness about topics, such as the causes and symptoms of diabetes, why keeping healthy and being physically active is essential, and provide strategies for managing diabetes.
Inclusive Policies and Practices
Schools can promote inclusive practices within the school that support students with diabetes with ease. This might include providing access to designated areas for blood glucose monitoring or the administration of insulin, allowing students to carry snacks or glucose tablets to manage hypoglycemia, and fostering a supportive network to reduce the stigma and discrimination around diabetes.
Diabetes Campaigns
Use posters and informative displays in common areas to organise diabetes awareness campaigns. You can encourage pupils to participate in activities such as creating educational materials that highlight key facts about diabetes. This can help to create understanding and empathy towards peers with diabetes.
Fundraising Events and Campaigns
Holding fundraising events is a great way to support diabetes research and advocacy. These events not only raise funds for a worthy cause but they also provide opportunities for pupils to actively contribute to the promotion of diabetes awareness and wider support efforts.
Healthy Living Challenges
Schools can launch healthy living challenges, which can actively encourage pupils to make positive lifestyle choices. You might challenge your pupils and staff to start tracking their daily physical activity, adopt healthier eating habits or task them to practise mindfulness or try out techniques to manage stress levels.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic condition that involves elevated levels of blood glucose (sugar) due to the body's inability to produce or effectively use insulin. There are several types of diabetes, such as Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes. They each have different causes and management strategies.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. People with Type 1 diabetes require lifelong insulin therapy to manage their blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes is often linked to lifestyle factors like poor diet and lack of physical activity. While Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be managed through lifestyle changes, many people require medication or insulin to control their levels of blood sugar.
Empowering Students for a Healthier Future
By actively participating in Diabetes Week, students gain valuable knowledge about diabetes and develop essential life skills.
This participation will encourage pupils to foster empathy and inclusivity towards peers with diabetes, which helps create a supportive and understanding environment where all students can succeed.
As schools continue to prioritise health education and wellness initiatives, Diabetes Week serves as a reminder of the importance of raising awareness about health conditions and empowering students to make informed choices for a healthier future.
Resources
AM07 Supporting Pupils with Diabetes
AM12 Supporting Pupils with SEND and Medical Conditions on School Trips
RAS46 Risk Assessment Template Supporting Staff With Diabetes
Example Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions Policy
Example Supporting Staff with Medical Conditions Policy
DfE: National service framework: Diabetes