England (Commonwealth Union) – In comparison to type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes is rarer, that is impacted by genetic factors. Type 1 diabetes is also known as an autoimmune disease as insulin-producing pancreatic beta-cells in the pancreas get destroyed and when insulin production is disrupted glucose levels cannot be maintained.
New research led by the Cardiff University has demonstrated that children living with type 1 diabetes miss an average of 9 more sessions of school annually when contrasted with children not having the condition. The study found that children having type 1 diabetes who have the healthiest blood glucose levels miss 7 more sessions annually, while those facing obstacles in maintaining their diabetes are absent for 15 more sessions each year. Absence was gaged in sessions that were half a day.
The researchers discovered that while a lot of children with diabetes still do well in their education both at age 16 and university participation, those with obstacles in maintaining their blood glucose levels achieved results that are 5 grades below the GCSEs children without the condition. They also indicate a 50% less chance to be in university as children who do not have type 1 diabetes.
The study which was a quantitative study that utilized data from school children in Wales between the years 2009 and 2016, further took into account factors like a child’s household socioeconomic status, neighborhood deprivation, gender, and age.
They saw that these personal and family features are likely to be linked with effective self-management of diabetes and in turn, impact education.
The lead author Dr Robert French, a senior research fellow at the Cardiff University, School of Medicine stated that the research indicates that children living with type 1 diabetes face a lot of extra challenges in school, like increased absences. He further noted that children having diabetes and maintaining the condition get the same grades at 16 years old as their peers with no diabetes and equally as likely to move further to higher education, which is exceptional taking into account their absence at school compared to those without diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is one of the most frequent chronic childhood conditions in the UK, impacting 1 in 250 children, in spite of it being identified later in life. Type 1 diabetes, it is not linked to lifestyles and needs insulin self-injections frequently, or the application of an insulin pump to regulate blood sugar levels.
Shelby Sangha at the age of 17 was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Presently 23 years old, she is employed at the West Midlands Ambulance Service as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher. She revealed that she disliked school at the best of times and then her world came crashing down when she found out that she was diabetic.
“I didn’t want to believe I had diabetes or need treatment because my friends didn’t – so why should I? I kind of pushed it to the back of my mind and tried to forget about it,” she said. “School and exams were a whirlwind, a very big emotional roller coaster. No-one really had a clue what diabetes was or what it entailed, me included. I don’t even think I had any support from my school, if I remember correctly. I think much more needs to be done to raise awareness of the impact of diabetes on children and young people. As well as support for them, talks in schools or patient referral groups would be a huge benefit.”
The research received funds from the Medical Research Council as well as the Administrative Data Research UK. The study partners were Diabetes UK, Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health, NHS Digital, Health Quality Improvement Partnership, University College London and Swansea University.
