Children - resources
Here are links to evidence-based resources which support this area of practice. You may also want to refer to information about the national service frameworks and strategies across the UK.
Some of the resources listed below are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
Guidelines and guidance
British Society for Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (BSPED) (2009): BSPED recommended DKA guidelines 2009 (PDF 232KB)
Approved guidelines for the management of diabetic ketoacidosis in children.
Department of Health NSF: Clinical care of children and young people with diabetes
This section from the national service framework provides an overview of the special needs of children and young people with diabetes.
Department of Health (2010) Diabetes type 1 in childhood. National Service Framework for children, young people and maternity services
The NSF for Children, Young People and Maternity Services has been published alongside supporting material, which includes a series of exemplar patient journeys. While it is not the role of the NSF or the exemplars to provide detailed clinical discussion on individual childhood conditions, exemplars illustrate some of the key themes in the NSF. This exemplar describes a care pathway for a child with Type 1 diabetes.
Department of Health (2007) Making every young person with diabetes matter
This report sets out current problems, provides guidance and makes recommendations in a number of areas including commissioning, organisation of care, provision of services and workforce.
Diabetes UK Care recommendations: Type 2 diabetes in children and young people
Diabetes UK recommends that for children and young people with Type 2 diabetes, the guidance published by the International Society for Pediatric and Adolescents with Diabetes (ISPAD) should be followed for diagnosis and treatment. See: ISPAD (2009) Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents (PDF 571KB)
NICE (2004): Type 1 diabetes: diagnosis and management of type 1 diabetes in children, young people and adults
This clinical guideline makes recommendations about the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in children and young people and about the care that should be available for them. It also covers the transition to adult care.
NICE pathways: Diabetes overview
NICE Pathways is an online tool for health and social care professionals that brings together all related NICE guidance and associated products in a set of interactive topic-based diagrams. In this pathway for diabetes there is a section on Managing type 1 diabetes in children and young people.
Royal College of Nursing (2006) Specialist nursing services for children and young people with diabetes (PDF 1.39MB)
This publication summarises nurses' roles in caring for children and young people with diabetes. Guidance is also given on caseloads and nurse/patient ratios, as well as standards for service development and review.
Royal College of Nursing (2009) Supporting children and young people with diabetes: guidance for nurses in schools and early years settings (PDF 743.0KB)
The RCN is aware of inequality in the care provision for children and young people in schools and early years settings. This document outlines the principles that health care professionals and education staff should apply to ensure the needs of children and young people with diabetes are met.
Royal College of Nursing (2011) Children and young people with diabetes: RCN guidance for newly appointed nurse specialists (PDF 1.1MB)
Specialist nurses have a significant impact on good diabetic control and overall management. As many specialist nurses work in isolation this guidance has been developed to sign post key resources and sources of support to those new to a specialist role key. The guidance also highlights issues that need to be considered by the individual as well as their employing organisation.
Systematic reviews and evidence summaries
Bandolier: Springtime hypoglycaemia in children with diabetes
A study investigating whether hypoglycaemia might be more frequent in diabetic children in the spring.
BMJ: Factors associated with the presence of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of diabetes in children and young adults: a systematic review
The review concludes that "multiple factors affect the risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis at the onset of type 1 diabetes in children and young adults, and there is potential time, scope, and opportunity to intervene between symptom onset and development of diabetic ketoacidosis for both parents and clinicians".
For more information about Cochrane Systematic Reviews, examples of which appear below, visit the page within this resource on the Cochrane Library.
Cochrane Review: Routine hospital admission versus out-patient or home care in children at diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus
In many places, children newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes mellitus are admitted to hospital for metabolic stabilisation and training, even if they are not acutely ill. This review assesses the effects of routine hospital admission compared to out-patient or home-based management in children newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes mellitus.
Cochrane Review: Specialist home-based nursing services for children with acute and chronic illnesses
Specialist paediatric home-based nursing services have been proposed as a cost-effective means of reducing trauma resulting from hospital admissions, while enhancing primary care and reducing length of hospital stay. This review evaluates specialist home-based nursing services for children with acute and chronic illnesses.
Other resources
British Heart Foundation (2009) Couch kids – the nation’s future
Four years on from the British Heart Foundation’s first ‘Couch Kids’ report into childhood obesity, this report shows that children are still not getting the diet or exercise they require.
The Foundation has a regular Food4Thought campaign to tackle the threat of childhood obesity. The BHF website also has a section on Children's health.
Children with Diabetes: the online community for kids, families and adults with diabetes. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
The aim of this online community is to promote understanding of the care and treatment of diabetes, especially in children.
Diabetes Scotland
Diabetes Scotland, which focuses on the care of children with Type 1 diabetes acts as a portal to the websites of several Scottish centres which care for children with diabetes.
Diabetes UK (2008) Making all children matter: support for children with diabetes in schools
This report looks at the current provision of support for children with diabetes in schools in England. The report makes a series of recommendations around legislation, guidance and training and data collection to give a greater focus to the needs of children at school with long-term conditions. It also includes examples of good practice and collaborative approaches to providing support.
NHS Diabetes: Areas of care: Children and young people
This section of the NHS Diabetes website is aimed at commissioners and providers of diabetes care. It brings together guidance, policy, commissioning guides, links to care pathways and examples of how services can be improved for children and young diabetes.
Medical Conditions at School
This website provides information to help schools and school healthcare professionals support all pupils with medical conditions.
Go to the children menu.