About the Course

We have designed this training specifically to enhance your confidence and ability to provide the best developmentally appropriate diabetes care for this vulnerable group of teenagers and young people living with diabetes.

They are at considerable risk of adverse events such as diabetic ketoacidosis requiring emergency admission to hospital as well as the long-term consequences of sub optimal glucose control. The services we currently offer them are often poorly organised or are even non-existent in some areas of the country. This is in spite of many attempts in the past to promote the provision of services tailored specifically for these young people and encourage the commissioning of evidence-based care. Young people’s specific needs often go unrecognised or may even be ignored in the prioritisation of funds and the design of services.

We have listened to the voices of young people living with diabetes whilst developing this new learning resource. They told us that transition from paediatric to adult care was a major milestone for them. They felt strongly that their diabetes care during the transition period should be explicitly planned with them. They told us that ineffective transition would certainly lead to many young people being ‘lost’ or ‘dropping out’ of adult services and therefore felt that effective transition should focus on the partnership with each young person to ensure that a service is provided which takes into account their views and wishes.

We hope that you enjoy your learning whilst you are taking part in this programme of learning and at the end of the course you feel really motivated to further enhance the services you offer to this very important group of people in our society.