Helping all children become happy learners
Diabetes
Diabetes
Diabetes is having too much sugar (glucose) in the blood.
People with diabetes are called diabetics. All diabetics have trouble keeping the amount of blood sugar right. Diabetes happens because the body doesn't have an important hormone called insulin. Many diabetics need to inject insulin into their bodies to keep well. They may need to do this more than once a day. They may also have to check their blood sugar using a tiny bit of blood and a special tester.
Sometimes diabetics have too little blood sugar. This is often called a 'low' or a 'hypo' and can be dangerous. It is usually important for them to have a small snack to feel better.
Having too much blood sugar is also bad and can make diabetics feel very unwell.
Diabetics are just people who need to manage their blood sugar to stay well and lead normal lives.
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Having A Hypo
When I have a hypo my blood sugar is low and I need to get help.
A hypo means I am running out of sugar in my blood. This means I do not have the energy that my body needs. When this happens I need to have something to eat or drink.
I will have tests everyday to tell if my blood sugar is low or high. But there are also lots of ways my body can tell me when my blood sugar might be getting low. It is important to tell an adult if:
My hands might start to shake
I start to feel sweaty
Someone says I am looking pale
I just feel unwell
I feel hungry
I start feeling angry or annoyed
I feel tired
I can’t concentrate or feel confused
I feel dizzy
My head hurts
It becomes hard to see things clearly
My toes and fingers feel tingly
When I think I might be having a hypo I can tell an adult straight away. It is important that I tell them how I feel so they can help look after me.
I have Diabetes
I have diabetes which means that I need help with my blood sugar levels.
My diabetes can mean that I have too much or too little sugar in my body. When it is too low it is often called a hypo. During a hypo I may feel tired and I may struggle to concentrate and do things. It might also make me grumpy with other people. It is important that I tell an adult when I feel hypo. Sometimes my blood sugar can be too high. Sometimes I might need to have more insulin to control this. Sometimes I may need to drink some water and move around for a bit. The adult who looks after my diabetes can help me.
I don't like having diabetes but I can do things so it is OK. I can follow the instructions and rules given to me by adults who help me with my diabetes. This might include:
What and when I eat and drink
When I need to check my blood sugar levels
What to do if I feel hypo
What I do when my blood sugar is too high
I have diabetes but that is OK. I can do lots of things to help me with my diabetes. It is important to tell adults who help me with diabetes when I feel hypo. I can then do things to make me feel better.
Notes on creating your own personalised social story:
Use the above examples to create your own personalised social story for the child. If you need to modify the language to support younger children ensure that the exact meaning intended remains clear and unambiguous. You may want to add photographs or pictures to illustrate the meaning or provide motivation to use. Alternatively, print out versions of the social stories are available below.
Diabetes
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Having A Hypo
I have Diabetes
