IT WAS a stressful and scary time for Worcester-born Julie Fisher and her parents when, at the age of 12, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Julie, who has lived with the condition for 27 years, said she can remember being in Worcester Royal Infirmary, in Castle Street, with her parents and she was not allowed to leave until one of them had given her an insulin injection.

“I chose my dad because I thought he would be stronger but he was shaking.” In those days the injections were given using the old fashioned hypodermics – a far cry from the modern insulin pen.

The life-long condition requires careful handling and monitoring and Julie was encouraged by specialist medical staff to be self-sufficient. “It was drilled home by the diabetes nurses that you take control of the diabetes and it should not control you. It is a difficult thing to do when you are 12,” she said.

“I had to get my head round it and get on with it. It was the only way to deal with it and it was a brilliant approach,” she said. “It was very daunting and it was a lot of responsibility for my parents because they were responsible for administering the insulin but they were not doctors or nurses.” Also, Julie’s diet had to be carefully managed.

As soon as she was diagnosed her school, Witton Middle School, in Droitwich, was informed. “At school the teachers had to be super alert – especially for the first few months. They were concerned about my welfare.”

Julie, now 40 and with young children herself, said hypoglycaemia – when the blood glucose drops too low – can come on very quickly and may not be obvious. The symptoms can include being short tempered and snapping, personality changes, slurring words, shaky, sweating and going pale.

“I remember after a swimming gala having hypoglycaemia and almost fainting. The teachers responded very quickly. Everything affects diabetes. Even if you go for a long walk your blood glucose can drop.”

This year the charity Diabetes UK has introduced a Care in School Helpline to support the parents of children with type 1 diabetes in making sure their children receive the diabetes care they are entitled to in school.

The charity believes it is really important that children with diabetes are fully supported to manage their diabetes well at school as poor support can put their physical and mental health at great risk and can also prevent them from reaching their full academic potential.

The new helpline is staffed by volunteers who can provide information about children’s rights and can provide emotional support at what can be a stressful time for parents.

The helpline is supported by Diabetes UK’s National Charity Partnership with Tesco and follows a landmark new law, which means for the first time all schools in England will be legally required to provide children with medical conditions such as type 1 diabetes, epilepsy and asthmas with the support they need to make the most of their time at school.

As part of its Type 1 diabetes: Make the Grade campaign, Diabetes UK has also produced free advice packs for schools to help them implement the new law. Free information packs are also available for parents, which outline what care they should expect in schools.

To order free packs or contact the Care in School Helpline, call 0345 123 2399 or go to www.diabetes.org.uk/schools

Julie, a lecturer in performing arts who recently moved from Fernhill Heath to Colchester, said her schools, the specialist diabetes nurses and the community team in Worcester were fantastic – understanding the emotional as well as the physical effects of diabetes.

She said her advice to any parent whose child has type 1 diabetes is: “Take advantage of all the support on offer. You do not have to do it on your own. The parents have rights and their children have rights. The new helpline is definitely a good thing and I think my parents would have used it.”

She added that there are online forums that can really help too.