Living with diabetes

He has to have his finger pricked several times a day to check for blood sugar levels, and has to be injected with insulin around three times a day. His mother is able to care for him at home and he is learning to carry out the injections himself, but for much of the school day, Graham's mother simply cannot be present.

Fortunately Graham's school has put the time, effort and money needed into ensuring that at all times, there is somebody on hand to help if anything happens '“ all necessary equipment is available and there are trained teachers and assistants who know what to do in case Graham's blood sugar levels drop. But not all schools have this facility.

The number of people with diabetes is growing every year. And Government spending levels are already high. But some small improvements would make a drastic difference '“ the number of local schools with the necessary training and equipment to accommodate diabetic children is very low. There is Government funding available to help schools provide this, but not all schools take this offer up.

As many readers will be aware, this Saturday, 14th November is World Diabetes Day.

So if you have time, please encourage your local school to apply for this funding, to make it possible for more children with diabetes to go to their local school.