Hamad General Hospital’s (HGH) paediatrics department has started a support group to improve quality of life for diabetic children who receive insulin pump therapy.
The support group is enabling the children and their families, to successfully manage the
condition.
“We have a dedicated multidisciplinary team that includes paediatric diabetologists, diabetes educators, dietitians, child psychologists and social workers who all work together with families to ensure that children with diabetes receive the best possible care,” stated Dr Fawziya al-Khalaf, head of paediatric endocrinology and diabetes at HMC’s paediatrics department.
The support group was initiated in January this year as part of efforts to motivate patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes towards better control and compliance with their
treatment regimen.
“Type 1 diabetes is the most common type of childhood diabetes, comprising around 1,000 patients being provided care at HGH’s paediatric endocrinology and diabetes unit,” Dr al-Khalaf explained.
Recently, members of the support group gathered for an educational workshop, including some of the department’s young patients, their family members, physicians, educators, a dietitian, and mental health professional.
The theme of the event was to demonstrate that children with diabetes can do the things that others of their age can do, even though some aspects of their life need to be more carefully
controlled.
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce any insulin, the hormone responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in the blood. This is a lifelong condition that has no cure, but with proper management of the condition, people with diabetes are capable of having long, healthy lives.
“The support group provides counselling to patients with poorly controlled diabetes who experience difficulties in adhering to their care plan and who may have social problems at home and in the community,” Dr al-Khalaf said.
This is done through one-on-one and group sessions. One-on-one sessions are held at least once a week to cultivate a friendlier and warm environment between patients and their families in each similar age group. Group sessions are held once every two months.
Both types of sessions are conducted through various platforms, including face-to-face meetings, phone calls, online and through the mobile messaging application WhatsApp. The healthcare team periodically assesses the progress of the patients in terms of
managing their diabetes.
“The core support team includes motivated patients who are successfully managing their diabetes, as well as their family members, and that they have been selected because of their skills in teaching and sharing information,” Dr al-Khalaf added.
During the workshop, Najwa, a paediatric diabetes educator, gave a talk about the importance of home blood glucose monitoring, the treatment of high blood sugar with insulin pump therapy and other aspects of diabetes self-management. The participants also shared their
experiences and knowledge.
The support group will have another educational session at the end of this month in Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City’s Bayt Al Dhiyafah (formerly known as the Club Hotel).