“Diabetes isn’t going to stop Kirsten from being the person she wants to be in life.” This is the view of Tempo mother of four, Joanne Oldcroft, whose nine-year-old daughter Kirsten was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago after contracting a virus.

In 2013, the schoolgirl embarked on the CHOICE programme through the Western Health and Social Care Trust. CHOICE stands for Carbohydrate, Insulin, Collaborative Education, and according to Joanne it “has given Kirsten greater control of her diabetes.” “We were so shocked when Kirsten received her diagnosis,” confessed Joanne, adding: “We have no family history of diabetes. Like most people, I followed the stereotype which was the theory that people developed diabetes due to a poor diet containing a high sugar intake. However, Kirsten has always had a relatively healthy diet with no fizzy drinks and sweets were always viewed as treats. When she was diagnosed, the diabetic nurse explained to us that the condition was caused by a virus attacking the pancreas, therefore meaning that it will no longer produce insulin.” Joanne went on to say that the local Diabetic Team referred them to the CHOICE programme which was available at the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen. “It was for a couple of hours every week for four weeks,” explained Joanne.

She continued: “It helped us to learn that diabetes is not a life threatening disease if you take care of yourself. It also taught us about carbohydrate counting so that Kirsten’s insulin levels could be adjusted accordingly. It’s not just a one off course though. You are invited to refresher courses every year and they give you an opportunity to review everything again, meet other families and learn from their experiences. Kirsten really enjoyed the programme too and she’s much more independent now because of it.” Joanne pointed out that before they completed the programme she didn’t know how to calculate carbohydrates in order to adjust her insulin doses.

She said she thought sweets and chocolate were completely off limits but now that they know that Kirsten can have all of those things on special occasions, she can calculate the amount of carbohydrates in each treat and make appropriate changes to her insulin doses.

In reference to how she does this, Joanne mentioned that at the end of the programme, they received a new blood sugar testing system (Accu-Chek Aviva Expert) which she says is personalised to suit Kirsten’s individual insulin sensitivity and calculates the amount of insulin for her to take once she has entered the amount of carbohydrates for each meal into the system.

“She can now go to birthday parties knowing she can have sweets and birthday cake,” said Joanne, who highlighted that she was away on a school trip to the Tayto factory in Tandragee and she went to Gosford Forest Park, without needing her to be there.

“She now has so much more freedom to enjoy the things she wants to do and I am so much more confident and reassured that she is healthy and happy,” she said, adding that it is “enabling and empowering the child2, as well as the family. Kirsten, the only member of her household to suffer from diabetes, and who “takes it in her stride”, is the youngest of four children of Joanne and husband David Oldcroft. The Tempo Primary School pupil, who was six, coming up seven, when diagnosed, never complains and just deals with it. Joanne pointed out that a local diabetic parents’ support group is getting off the ground; its chairman is Mrs. Grainne Leonard, who can be contacted for details on 077 293 67949.

Meanwhile, the long-term future of the Ulster University informed Type 1 diabetes CHOICE programme has been secured thanks to £179,000 annual funding from the Health and Social Care Board.

The CHOICE programme, a structured diabetes educational programme, was originally developed by the Ulster University for Type 1 diabetic adolescents.

“It has now been mainstreamed into diabetes services across all five Northern Ireland Health Trusts and the border counties for all Type 1 diabetic young children, adolescents aged 0 to 19 years,” said a representative, who acknowledged the news has been warmly welcomed by Type 1 diabetes patients and their families, the health sector, voluntary organisations and Ulster University. Type 1 Diabetes in young people requires a number of self-care practices to achieve both optimal blood glucose control and maintain a good quality of life.

Through the CHOICE programme, patients learn the skills and knowledge they need to manage their diabetes and reduce the impact of the condition on daily activities and lifestyle.

The CHOICE programme consists of 12 hours education over four weeks, in three hourly interactive, group based sessions.

Activities explore the interaction of carbohydrates and insulin requirements, timing of food and effects of exercise on blood glucose levels and insulin.

Professor Vivien Coates, Professor of Nursing Research at Ulster University, commented: “Ulster University developed the CHOICE programme on the back of its research with young people to fulfil an unmet need to provide a programme tailored specifically to meet the needs of adolescents. Through the CHOICE programme patients learn the skills and knowledge they need to manage their diabetes and reduce the impact of the condition on daily activities and lifestyle.

“We are delighted that the long term future of this successful Ulster University research informed programme will continue across all five health trusts thanks to recurrent funding from the Health and Social Care Board and that has now been extended to 0 to 19 year olds.” Diabetes Week, which raises awareness of this common condition, and is held UK wide, took place from June 14 to 20.