The diabetes team cares for children and young people diagnosed with a variety of different types of diabetes including: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, MODY, CF related diabetes, Steroid induced diabetes, we see children and young people from diagnosis up to the age of 19 years old.
Outpatients Services
We hold consultant-led Multi-Disciplinary team clinics each week. Our clinics take place in level 5 of the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton or at Princess Royal Hospital (PRH) in Haywards Heath – currently clinics from PRH are on hold.
What happens at my diabetes appointment?
At your clinic appointment, we will take your height and weight. We will also do a finger prick HbA1c test, to see how you are getting on with your diabetes. We will talk to you about things that are going well, any concerns you may have and any support that might be needed.
You’ll attend four paediatric diabetes clinics each year. These will be led by a consultant, with input from a nurse and/or a dietitian or a psychologist.
How we help
We support our families on the ward, at home and on the phone. During our meetings with children with young people and our families, we may:
- Check in with how you are and how managing diabetes is going
- Review blood glucose levels and data
- Provide training for all aspects of diabetes management. This may include insulin regimens and pump therapy, as well as continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems.
- Give advice about DLA and PIP applications
We also provide:
- Training sessions for schools and nurseries, so they can care for children and young people with diabetes
- Wellbeing support from our diabetes psychologists and trainee psychologists.
- Support from our diabetes dietitians
- Social and education events for children and young people with diabetes including groups where you can meet with other young people and families
- Transition events for older teenagers to help them move across to the adult diabetes service in a gradual and supported way.
- An out-of-hours service for emergency concerns, supported by the ward on Level 9 at the Alex
Where we are
The diabetes nursing team is located on level 10 of The Alex.
View the map and directions to The AlexContact
Helpful resources
- Digibete is a platform to help young people, families and communities living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It is a social enterprise founded by families living with diabetes.
- Breakthrough T1D (formally JDRF) is a global charity dedicated to funding research and providing support for children and young people with Type 1 diabetes.
- Diabetes UK is the largest charity focussed on diabetes research in the UK. It provides information and support for people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
- What is Diabetes video
- Living with Diabetes video
- Travelling with diabetes | Managing your diabetes | Diabetes UK
- Sick day rules: insulin pen therapy
- Sick day rules: insulin pump therapy
- Children and Young Persons Diabetes Psychology Service leaflet