Ten-year-old Jazmyn Kalin’s diabetes journey may have only just begun but she is taking it all in her stride, administering her own insulin needles and even learning about carbs.
Diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in mid-June, Jazmyn was the first patient to receive the first prototype of the Perth Children’s Hospital’s colourful new diabetes folder — a comprehensive resource to help families navigate a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, now and into the future.
The resource features information on what diabetes is and includes helpful tips on managing diabetes including insulin, glucose monitoring, administering insulin and pump therapy. There are also chapters on exercise, food planning, sick day management, hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia.
Jazmyn’s mum, Natasha Banjac, said the folder had come in handy since arriving home from hospital.
“I didn’t want to leave hospital as I wasn’t sure what lay ahead with us left to tackle diabetes on our own but the folder had proved a godsend,” she said.
“Just last night I was reading all about insulin and the different insulin therapies —we’re learning heaps.”
Children’s Diabetes Centre co-director Professor Liz Davis said parents would initially feel overwhelmed about diabetes and its management and children may also have difficulty coping with the diagnosis and the diabetes regimen.
“The Diabetes Service at Perth Children’s Hospital knows that this is a difficult time for families and can offer support and information to help you through this adjustment period and beyond,” she said.
“We hope this folder becomes your go-to resource to help ease the burden on young people living with type 1 diabetes and their families.”
For families already living with type 1 diabetes, hard copies are available in clinic and an interactive PDF-version is now available on the ‘Resources’ page of this website.