Experience of diabetic children and their families in relation to diet at school

A study was undertaken to assess how families coped with meals and snacks for their diabetic children at school, and to discover any problems they experienced. The families of 67 (93%) of the 72 school age diabetic children attending the South Manchester hospitals were questioned. The questions covered morning and afternoon snacks, lunch, and general points about food at school. The majority of parents were satisfied with the arrangements for their children, although we identified some areas, particularly lack of supervision, which could be a cause for concern. A small number of families did experience problems with timing and content of meals, and with communication with school staff. None of these problems are insurmountable, but they demonstrate the need for improved education of families of diabetic children and staff at their schools.