Team triumphs in getting paediatric diabetes under control

The Children’s Diabetes Service is led by Dr Satish Hulikere, a consultant paediatrician, and provides diabetes diagnosis, treatment and ongoing support to children and young people aged 0 to 18.

In the last few years, the team’s hours have been expanded and they have been joined by a second consultant and a clinical psychologist meaning they have been able to improve the number of their patients whose diabetes is under control.

Dr Satish said: “The team has expanded which has helping us improve the service in Warrington and Halton over the past couple of years.

“Every year the Royal College of Paediatrics London collects data about how well diabetes is controlled in each of the units.

“Nationally the number of children with good diabetes control has gone up but Warrington has made a significant improvement and is better than the national average.

“The number of poorly controlled patients has come down and again we are half the national average for poorly controlled patients.

“We also have the lowest admission rate for diabetes related complications than any other hospital in the North West.

“It is complex controlling diabetes in children but education and communication and what we say to parents is the key thing I think.”

Nationally, a thousand more children were diagnosed with diabetes last year compared to the year before but Warrington and Halton NHS Foundation Trust's figures have been static for several years.

Wendy Schmitt, diabetes specialist and nurse leader, said: “The psychologist coming in has been a big bonus to the team because a lot of the children already struggle with issues at home or at school or their social lives and diabetes just adds to that.

“It is another thing that they have got to cope with as well growing up, starting school, changing school, changing relationships so it is not just the diabetes that our psychologist looks at.

"He looks at a number of factors affecting their stage of life that the diabetes just makes more difficult.

“To be able to say we have got someone who can listen and help has been a great big plus point.”

The team is available every day, including Saturdays and Sundays, for patients to call and they have access to the children’s ward 24 hours a day if they have a problem.

Dr Satish added: “I am proud that the team is achieving good outcomes.

“The most important thing is, even though the team has expanded, communication has increased between the team members and we all speak the same language and the message gets across to the patients and helps them to maintain good control.”

Dr Satish checks Jacob’s insulin pump

THE first patient at the trust to be put on an insulin pump instead of injections is three-year-old Jacob Wenham.

Jacob was diagnosed with type one diabetes when he was 15 months old and was having to have at least six injections a day to control the condition until he was fitted with the pump.

His mum, Dawn Flaherty, of Sennen Close, Runcorn, said: “His condition is managed better and the pump gives him a bit more freedom.

“He isn’t as restricted at mealtimes and every now and then I can give him a treat.

“I first noticed something was wrong because he would drink a lot and he would wet his nappies through quite regularly.

“I took him to see the doctor but because he wasn’t really sick we were sent home again.

“He then started to get really ill and we brought him to hospital where he was diagnosed.”

Dr Satish checks Ella’s blood pressure

ONE of the team’s success stories is 16-year-old Ella Pollard.

Ella was diagnosed in November 2013 but, despite only taking her GSCEs a few months later, achieved all A and A* grades.

Now at Priestley College, Ella has to inject insulin at least twice a day and also has to plan ahead to make sure she eats at the right times.

“When I first thought something was wrong it was because I was drinking a lot more but I didn’t think anything of it because it was hot at the time,” Ella, of Station Road South, Padgate, explained.

“But then I started needing the toilet more and I lost lots of weight so I went to see my GP and he sent me here.

"I just put it to the back of my mind because no one in my family has diabetes so I didn't think I would have it but I would google the symptoms all the time and it would always come up with diabetes.

“I have thought about having a pump but my diabetes is under control at the moment so I think if it isn't broke don't fix it.

"It is harder now then when I was at school because I had more regular breaks then whereas at college they can be at any time.”