Blog - Warrior Stories
Diabetes School Prep with Warrior Ava (and mum Rebecca)
Dexcom Warrior, Ava*, is a little girl living her best life with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Her mum shares her preparation checklist, special considerations and how they use the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) System to help manage Ava’s diabetes while she’s at school.
Meet Dexcom Warrior, Ava*, and her mum Rebecca
Year 4 school student and Dexcom Warrior, Ava, lives in Buckinghamshire with her mum, Rebecca. When she was diagnosed with T1D three years ago, the family was completely heartbroken. But, with her diabetes care plan, careful preparation and the power of real time CGM technology, Ava is able to enjoy life just like any other child. This brave and active 8-year-old loves musical theatre, gymnastics, swimming and playing with her friends.
We had a chat to her mum to learn more about her school time routine, diabetes prep checklist and experience using the Dexcom CGM System.
Questions for Ava and Rebecca
1. When and how was Ava diagnosed with type 1 diabetes?
Ava was diagnosed aged 5 in June 2020. She had become quite lethargic and didn’t ever want to walk anywhere. She had also been ill a few random times for no reason. It was the middle of lockdown and boiling hot, so I put most her symptoms down to the situation at the time. As she was with me 24/7, I hadn’t really noticed her weight loss. However, family members had noticed a drastic weight loss on Facetime. She was also hungry all of the time and was eating a lot which didn’t make sense. I checked her BMI on the NHS app and it showed that she was severely underweight. So, I took her to GP that day and she was rushed straight to hospital and diagnosed.
Ava was diagnosed aged 5 in June 2020. She had become quite lethargic and didn’t ever want to walk anywhere. She had also been ill a few random times for no reason. It was the middle of lockdown and boiling hot, so I put most her symptoms down to the situation at the time. As she was with me 24/7, I hadn’t really noticed her weight loss. However, family members had noticed a drastic weight loss on Facetime. She was also hungry all of the time and was eating a lot which didn’t make sense. I checked her BMI on the NHS app and it showed that she was severely underweight. So, I took her to GP that day and she was rushed straight to hospital and diagnosed.
2. What was your reaction when she was diagnosed? What was Ava’s reaction?
I was in complete shock! We didn’t know anyone with any type of diabetes so it was the last thing I expected. I was also unaware of exactly what it meant. So, once it was explained what she would have to live with, I completely broke down and didn’t know how we would manage it. I was heartbroken for her.
I was in complete shock! We didn’t know anyone with any type of diabetes so it was the last thing I expected. I was also unaware of exactly what it meant. So, once it was explained what she would have to live with, I completely broke down and didn’t know how we would manage it. I was heartbroken for her.
For the first 5 days we were in hospital, Ava was hysterical. She begged me to go home and make it stop and was having to be pinned down by doctors to have her finger pricks and insulin injections. As she was so little, she didn’t understand why it was happening. But, after a few days, she was handling it like a pro. I’m really proud of her.
3. Do you feel like there’s enough child-friendly diabetes education out there? Are there any resources in particular you like to use?
I definitely think we could use a lot more child-friendly diabetes educational resources. Ava loves books such as Daisy Donald by Jade Byrne and The Abilities in Me Type 1 Diabetes*, which she shared with her class. She also really enjoys the Happy Bob app but I do think there could be more. As a parent, I can find a lot of resources and support for myself, particularly through social media, but a child doesn’t have much exposure to this.
4. When did Ava start wearing CGMs? Have you tried other CGMs and what CGM is she wearing now?
Ava started on a competitor brand at the end of 2020. However, she had little hypo awareness and we couldn’t rely on scanning, particularly during the night. I was unable to keep her as safe as possible with this device. She has been using the Dexcom G6 CGM System for just over 2 years now.
5. How has the Dexcom G6 impacted your daily life?
The Dexcom G6 has enabled Ava to continue living her life as normally as possible. It’s helped her to start becoming a bit more independent in managing her own glucose levels. But it also still enables her to be a care-free child as myself and her other caregivers can easily manage it without the need to keep finger pricking her.† One of the main benefits is also helping us all to get more sleep without worrying.
6. How did Ava’s school-time routine change after being diagnosed? What is your T1D school time routine?
Thankfully, Ava was diagnosed during lockdown so she wasn’t at school. This enabled her dad and I to get to grips with her care first and fully prepare for when she returned a few months later.
Her school routine didn’t change as such. But she now has trained staff members taking over my role of managing her diabetes while at school. This means that she can get pulled out of lessons for hypo treatments and insulin administration. She also goes to lunch a bit earlier so she has time to eat it all without rushing. I purchased the school a phone‡ and downloaded the Dexcom Follow app§ on it so they get all of the alarms that I get. This means that Ava’s phone can be on silent and not bother her throughout the school day. It also means that I’m able to text whoever is looking after her that day, rather than having to continuously ring in to the school office. This works brilliantly!
7. Do you have a diabetes checklist or things Ava goes to school with (or has at school) to help manage her T1D?
✔ Ava takes her own phone‡ in a small pouch that she wears round her waist. And then the school phone‡ that her carer takes around with them during the day that has the Dexcom Follow app§ downloaded on it
✔ A spare pod and insulin vial and also an insulin syringe pen in case of emergencies
✔ Blood sugar meter, extra batteries, testing strips and needles in case of needing to inject (and spare lancets)
✔ A ketone metre and ketone testing strips
✔ Alcohol wipes
✔ A water bottle with times of the day on it to ensure that she is drinking and I can also monitor the amount she is drinking
✔ Ava uses lift tablets to treat her hypos. I also send in snacks, such as smoothies, carb free snacks and biscuits, if she needs an extra boost to keep her stable. She can sometimes get really hungry if she’s low or high so the carb free snacks enable her to eat without needing to give her insulin
✔ The school also have a hypo kit containing injectable Glucagon in their fridge that they keep in case of a severe hypo where she becomes unresponsive
8. What considerations do you take into account when preparing Ava’s school lunch?
I have to ensure that everything in Ava’s packed lunch is something that she will eat. I also have to make sure that she doesn’t have too much as it’s important that she eats everything I pack so that she doesn’t have too much insulin.
I carb count everything I pack and write it on a slip. I include what percentage and over how long to split her bolus. I also include a reduced temp basal amount. (Usually -30% over 1.5 hours for Ava) as she goes outside to play and run around straight after eating. This means a smaller amount of background insulin is administered over this time to stop her levels dropping with the increased activity.
9. Does your prep list or routine change depending on what activities Ava is doing?
Ava will always take everything in her kit wherever she goes. If she goes for a sleepover, I will include a spare Dexcom CGM System too. When she goes to birthday parties or playdates, I will ask the parents to text me a picture of the food each time she wants to eat and I carb count based on her levels I can see on the Dexcom Follow app.§ Sometimes, when she’s got PE, I will pack juice cartons as they can raise her blood glucose higher and quicker
10. What are your favourite child-friendly features of the Dexcom G6?
My favourite features have to be the alarms and the arrows so we can make better decisions based on which way her glucose levels are going. And also, the Dexcom Follow app§, so we have the ability to see her levels wherever she is.
11. Who are your Followers on the Dexcom Follow app?
That would be myself (Rebecca), her dad (Simon) and the school phone.‡ If she goes on a playdate or sleepover, then I download the Dexcom Follow app§ on the parent’s phone.
12. What data can they see?
We are able to see all the data, including her current glucose readings and those within the last 24 hours.
13. Does Ava monitor her own glucose levels on the Dexcom G6 CGM system? Or do her teachers and/or you monitor them?
Generally, her teachers and I use the Dexcom Follow app§ to monitor her real-time glucose levels. Ava is still quite young, so we try not to put too much pressure on her just yet. But if she is in an environment with untrained adults, such as an extra-curricular activity or a playdate, she has the ability to monitor her own glucose levels using the Dexcom G6 app.
14. How did you teach Ava and her teachers about how the Dexcom G6 works? Do they find it easy to use?
I think it is mainly just practise. I ask them to focus on the dots and the arrows of the real time readings to gauge how quickly and in what direction her glucose levels are going. I feel like the sensor and the app are really easy to use and it’s a case of spending time using the system to get used to it.
15. Do you find the school to be supportive in helping Ava to manage her T1D? Do they have all the resources needed?
Ava’s school are absolutely fantastic with caring for her. They are so supportive of us both and nothing is ever too much. A diabetes nurse goes in to train them and then I will also go in for regular meetings to keep them updated with her current care plan. The Dexcom G6 has made it much easier and less worrying for them to look after her, and not completely time consuming as it is with finger pricks and other CGM devices.
16. Does Ava know what to do if she has a hyper or hypo at school? What is the process in place?
Ava has one staff member that looks after her per day. However, there are many staff members that have been trained to care for her. So, she knows if she feels hypo or hyper, then she can go to any of them to help her. The staff member caring for her will have the phone‡ with the Dexcom Follow app§ downloaded so they will usually get to her before she feels any major symptoms anyway.
17. Any final thoughts or tips on what to pack or how to prepare your child with T1D for school?
Ava went to school before using the Dexcom CGM System and it was really stressful for them and for me. The Dexcom G6 has given us all complete peace of mind while she’s in school. And communication has also been much easier and more accessible since using it.
My main tip would be to buy the staff a separate phone‡ to be able to contact them with a simple text. You’ll know that if you’re concerned about anything, you can reach the required staff member simply and quickly.
Also, to leave spares of everything, such as extra insulin, at school at all times. That way if you are at work or not close to the school and they need something, then they will already have it there.
Remote monitoring with Dexcom CGM Systems
If you have a child with T1D, the best thing you can do is to be as prepared as possible. Ensure they have all supplies at school (with spares) and trained staff that are familiar with your diabetes care plan. Take it a step further by empowering them with the power of real-time CGM technology. Learn more about how you can track your child’s glucose levels from afar with remote monitoring.
Compare Dexcom CGM Systems to see which product is right for you (and your child) or find out how you can access CGM through NHS funding.
Footnotes
* Ava and Rebecca are paid spokespeople for Dexcom. Books mentioned in this article are recommended by Ava and Rebecca.
† Finger pricks required for diabetes treatment decisions if symptoms or expectations do not match readings.
‡ Display devices sold separately. For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility.
§ Requires the Dexcom Follow App and an internet connection. Followers should always confirm readings on the Dexcom CGM App or Receiver before making treatment decisions.
† Finger pricks required for diabetes treatment decisions if symptoms or expectations do not match readings.
‡ Display devices sold separately. For a list of compatible smart devices, please visit www.dexcom.com/compatibility.
§ Requires the Dexcom Follow App and an internet connection. Followers should always confirm readings on the Dexcom CGM App or Receiver before making treatment decisions.