Chinie

A number of childhood diseases that were previously fatal can now be successfully treated
and cared as chronic Illnesses. Chronic illnesses are defined as physical conditions that affect
an individual’s ability to function for intervals longer than three months, or for a duration of
hospitalization longer than one month. Chronic illnesses include: asthma, cancer, diabetes,
chronic renal impairment, epilepsy, congenital heart anomaly, obesity, and hematologic
diseases. While survival have improved, a critical consideration of their impact upon school
performance is required.
Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body uses glucose , a sugar that is the body's main
source of fuel. Your body needs glucose to keep running.
The two major types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2.
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can’t make insulin. The body can still get glucose from food
but the glucose can’t get into the cells where it’s needed. To fix the problem, someone with
type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin through regular shots or an insulin pumps.
The main symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents include:
•Increased thirst and urination • Hunger •Weight loss •Fatigue
•Irritability •A fruity smell on the breath •Blurred vision
How Is Type 1 Diabetes Treated?
Kids who have type 1 diabetes have to pay a little more attention to what they eat and do than
kids without diabetes. They need to take insulin as their doctor prescribed, eat a healthy,
balanced diet with accurate carbohydrate counts, check blood sugar levels as prescribed, get
regular exercise.
Type 2 diabetes is different from type 1 diabetes. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas still makes
insulin, but the insulin doesn’t work in the body like it should and blood sugar levels get too
high.
The main symptoms of type 2 diabetes includes, urinating more often, especially at night,
increased thirst, tiredness, weight loss, itching around the genitals, possibly with a yeast
infection, slow healing of cuts or wounds, blurred vision as a result of eye dryness.
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Is Type 2 Diabetes Treated?

Eat a healthy diet, as determined by the care team. Get regular physical activity to achieve a
healthy weight and allow insulin to work more effectively. Take insulin shots or medicines
that help insulin work better in their bodies. Get treatment for other health problems that can
happen more often in people with type 2 diabetes, like high blood pressure or problems with
the levels of fats in their blood. Have regular checkups with doctors.

Common impacts across illnesses

Social impact
Children with chronic illness are at higher risk for developing social impairments compared
to their peers because of limitations associated with their chronic illness.
Psychological impact
Sign of anxiety or depression (e.g., loss of interest, poor appetite, and insomnia) are
common in chronically ill children and usually overlooked or undertreated.
Educational impacts
Absenteeism are commonly lead to the requirement of instructional adaptations, such as
developing of individual education programs, placement in special education, or grade
repetitions.15 They are absent from school for an average of 16 days a year compared to 3
days for healthy peers.
How does diabetes affect student learning?
Diabetes can affect a child’s learning because it can cause difficulties with attention,
memory, processing speed and perceptual skills if it’s not managed. It’s really important that
a child is supported at school so they can manage their diabetes and get the most out of being
at school.
Supporting students with chronic illness

The family and the school need to work together to establish and maintain good
communication and cooperation.
The important things to remember are that you:

 Share information
 Develop a care plan
 Keep up good communication
 Make changes where necessary
 Seek extra support.