Press Release on DAWN Youth
Nine out of 10 children with diabetes lack support at school
Novo Nordisk, together with the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD), today presented the results from the largest international survey exploring the psychosocial aspects of childhood diabetes.
The DAWN Youth (Diabetes, Attitudes, Wishes and Needs) survey draws an alarming portrait of the various challenges that children with diabetes face at school:
- Six out of 10 children with diabetes do not manage their diabetes successfully in school (according to their physicians)
- Nine out of 10 cannot rely on a school nurse to assist them with their diabetes during school
- Indications are that children with diabetes drop out of school earlier than others
In addition, the survey highlights the lack of awareness and appropriate measures taken such as available school nurses or school staff to answer to the needs of children with diabetes in a school environment. And the consequences of poor diabetes management are frightening: if the blood sugar level is too high or too low the child can feel ill, lose concentration or in worst case, suffer from an insulin shock. Poorly regulated diabetes can, in the long run, lead to severe complications to the heart or kidneys. All this can easily be prevented by good and proper diabetes care and support.
“The situation for children with diabetes in school today is unacceptable. The risks that children face due to poor support in school environments are serious and lifethreatening. The DAWN Youth survey results indeed highlight the importance of dealing with the problems of diabetes in relation to children. The conditions for children with diabetes in school can only be changed when parents, school staff and healthcare providers work together – each taking their part of the responsibility,” says Professor Thomas Danne, secretary general of ISPAD.
Need for unified action
Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood and can strike children at any age. Today, more than 200 children a day develop diabetes and the disease poses a severe burden for these children and their families as it affects them physically, mentally and socially. Therefore, children with diabetes need permanent attention from their families and surroundings.
“It is very important to involve families and the education system, starting from primary school. An example for all: we should replace automatic snack vendors with the option of eating fruit and vegetables. We can summarise this lifestyle in a slogan, so that it is easier to understand for children: more sport and nature, less snacks,” declares Italian Senator Emanuela Baio, secretary of the Senate President’s Committee and member of the Parliamentary Committee for Children.
Drawing on coordinated research and advocacy across countries, a variety of initiatives are being facilitated via the DAWN Youth initiative to promote access to adequate education and psychosocial support to families affected by diabetes worldwide. For example, the US DAWN Youth has given substantial support to the training aspects of the American Diabetes Association’s ‘Safe at School’ programme. The programme offers advocacy training for school nurses, school policymakers, educators, parents and other advocates on challenges and strategies in school diabetes care.
“Novo Nordisk strongly believes that all children with diabetes have a right to equal access to education as well as a safe environment at school. Novo Nordisk will continue supporting initiatives that highlight conditions of children with diabetes, raise childhood diabetes awareness and continue to give children with diabetes and their parents a voice,” says Lise Kingo, executive vice president and chief of staffs at Novo Nordisk.
