Paediatric Diabetes Service
Overview of Paediatric Diabetes Service:
We are a multidisciplinary team of Clinical Specialist Nurses, Paediatric Consultants, Specialist Dietitians and a Clinical Psychologist who care for children and young people who have a diagnosis of Diabetes. We work closely to provide specialist care to children and young people with Diabetes across Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
If you are concerned that your child is showing signs of having Diabetes, please seek urgent help and advice from the GP or local A+E department. If a child or young person is diagnosed with Diabetes, they are referred into our Paediatric Diabetes Service for their ongoing care.
Diabetes UK 4 Ts Campaign Poster for Spotting the signs of Type 1 Diabetes: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-diabetes/type-1-diabetes/symptoms
4Ts of Type 1 Diabetes / Signs of Type 1 Diabetes
- For non-urgent queries to the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Diabetes Team, please contact your child’s local Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Nurse or email CTM.PaediatricDiabetes@wales.nhs.uk. For any urgent queries, please contact your local Children’s Ward.
- Services Offered
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Multidisciplinary Team Clinics: Routine follow up clinics held with the Paediatric Diabetes Consultant, Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Nurse, Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Dietitian and Paediatric Clinical Psychologist for Diabetes at least 4 times a year to support with diabetes management. HbA1c tests are performed in each appointment using a finger prick blood sample, to provide an average reading for glucose management over the last 3 months (approx).
- Nurse Led/Nurse-Dietetic Clinics
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An appointment with the Specialist Nurse and/or Specialist Dietitian for additional support with diabetes management, treatment plans, initiating new equipment or insulin pumps and carbohydrate counting sessions when needed
- Annual Reviews
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Happen once a year with the multidisciplinary team to review all aspects of diabetes management. This will include annual blood and urine tests.
- Referral to Retinopathy Screening
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As an important part of diabetes management, all children and young people above the age of 12 years will have a digital picture of their eyes taken by the Diabetes Eye Screening Wales service. Children under the age of 12 years are advised to have their eyes tested by a local optician.
- Psychology Service
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As part of our diabetes team, our Clinical Psychologist is available to talk to children, young people and their families as a routine part of diabetes care to offer support with managing diabetes on a daily basis.
Urgent Mental Health Support:
- If concerned about a child or young person in mental health crisis or at risk of harm due to their mental health, contact GP or attend local A+E department.
Mental Health Support Services:
- Kooth: http://www.kooth.com/
- Young Minds: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/ Helpline for Parents: 0808 802 5544, Monday - Friday 9:30am - 4:00pm.
- Valley Steps: https://valleyssteps.org/
- MIND: https://ctmmind.org.uk/mental-health-prevention/counselling
- Samaritans: Call 116 123 (24 Hour Helpline)
- Virtual and Remote Reviews
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Within diabetes care, it is possible to automatically or manually upload data from blood glucose meters, insulin pumps and bolus advice apps, which can be sent to the diabetes team. This allows us to review a child or young person’s results and make changes as needed, without them having to attend clinic appointment.
- Transition to Adult Services
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The Paediatric Diabetes Team will support each young person’s transition to Adult Diabetes Services around their 18th birthday. As part of this there is a 2 year plan of care which begins around the age of 16 years in preparation for adulthood, including an education programme called Seren Connect and joint clinics with the adult diabetes team.
- School Training
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We provide diabetes training to school staff to ensure that all children and young people in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg area have the correct support with managing their diabetes whilst in school.
- Inpatient Reviews
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We provide the education and support to families at the point of diagnosis when admitted to the children’s ward. We also review children and young people should they ever be admitted to the children’s ward after diagnosis.
- Letters
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We can provide supporting letters, such as for Travel and Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment applications.
- Insulin Pump Service
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We support children and young people in accessing and initiating the use of insulin pump therapy, including Hybrid Closed Loop Pumps.
Note: We advise that should you have an issue with your insulin pump or supplies, or have a technical query regarding your device, please contact the appropriate pump company for support.
