First Prize for Improving Diabetes Care

The Paediatric Diabetes Team at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, (EPUT) and Southend University Hospital Trust have won first prize at Southend University Hospital’s Research and Audit Poster Competition, in the category of Quality Improvement.

The prize is for the development of an insulin pump therapy service for children and young people aged 0-19 years with Type 1 Diabetes in south east Essex.

Insulin pump therapy can be used as an alternative to multiple daily insulin injections for patients with diabetes to manage the condition.

Studies have shown that insulin pump therapy can improve the quality of life for people with diabetes and can help to gain better control of the condition. This in turn can reduce the risk of complications.

The Paediatric Diabetes Team deliver this service for children and young people both at the hospital and in the community as part of an integrated service with a wide range of staff who are based at Southend Hospital.

Previously, patients who required the use of the insulin pump had to travel to London or Cambridge. This was inconvenient to patients, their parents and/ carers and was also expensive.

The paediatric diabetes pump service started in March 2017. As a result of using the insulin pump, there has been improved diabetes control and improved quality of life for the children and young people who have been using this service.

The pumps deliver insulin continuously throughout the day via a cannula inserted

under the skin. Insulin doses can be calculated and delivered in much smaller doses this way than is possible using the traditional injections, therefore enabling improved blood glucose control.

Suzie Williams from EPUT, said: "Families in our area have been delighted that insulin pumps can now be provided locally. It makes a real difference for patients to be able to stay with a paediatric diabetes team they know and not have to travel long distances both for training and follow up appointments."

Comments from parents include:

“We felt strongly about remaining at Southend Hospital. We have a strong rapport with the team and didn’t want to change. My child trusts them implicitly. Thankfully all their hard work paid off and the pumps were granted so we didn’t have to move hospitals.’’

“The pump has been life changing for us. Our son has no hypo or hyper awareness and was constantly having hypos. This was affecting his confidence and frustrating him as he couldn’t be independent or do things that his peers were doing. This has reduced his hypos and enabled him to go out with friends and take part in the sports he loves. A big thank you to the brilliant team who have been there every step of the way supporting us from day one. We don’t know what we would have done without them or this amazing technology.’’

“My child is less self-conscious as people would stare at him in public when he injected insulin to control his diabetes. It also gives him the option to eat less more frequently.’’