If you have type 1 diabetes it means your body no longer makes insulin. Insulin is essential and all people with type 1 diabetes require insulin replacement by injections. Blood glucose levels are checked multiple times every day to determine and assess the required insulin replacement doses.

At diagnosis you will meet with an endocrinologist, diabetes dietitian and a diabetes nurse educator (DNE). The dietitian and DNE will meet with you over a number of days to help you to learn the daily diabetes care activities required. A social worker is also available and will meet with you if requested. Diabetes care needs family support so it is important that the adults who care for your child on a daily basis are available for these education sessions.

Diabetes education is provided Monday – Friday between 8am–4pm. If you have been admitted outside these hours the ward nurses will support you until the DNE and dietitian are available. You might find it helpful to prepare by looking at the online learning modules on our website

At diagnosis you will have specific diabetes self-care skills to learn including:

• How to give insulin;
• How to check a blood glucose level with a lancing device/finger pricker;
• How to keep a blood glucose record book;
• How to treat high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia);
• What ketones are; when and why to test for them;
• How to treat low blood glucose levels (hypoglycaemia);
• Diabetes and healthy eating;
• Returning to school.

Once home you will be in phone or email contact with a DNE for BGL reviews and support with adjustment of insulin levels. Your contact will reduce in frequency as you gain confidence in day-to-day diabetes management and you begin to adjust the insulin doses based on the recorded blood glucose levels. We will support you in this process.

After discharge, you may return for further outpatient appointments with the DNE or dietitian to complete your education. Your first outpatient doctor’s appointment will be booked about one–two months after diagnosis when you will also see a dietitian and DNE. Thereafter, medical appointments will occur every three–four months until your child transitions to an adult diabetes service.

For further information, please review our website or call our diabetes office on 9345 6661.