New type 2 diabetes elearning supports better treatment and outcomes for children and young people  

A new elearning programme about managing type 2 diabetes in children and young people (CYP) has been developed for healthcare staff. 

It aims to help increase awareness of how best to care for CYP with type 2 diabetes which should improve their longer-term health. 

The resource features six sessions covering a range of topics including diagnosis, glucose monitoring, complications and pharmaceutical and psychological interventions. 

It has been developed by elearning for healthcare, NHS England and the CYP Diabetes Network after data showed an increase in the number of CYP being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Despite this increase, type 2 diabetes is considered a relatively rare condition in paediatrics – in 2019/20, 58 per cent of paediatric diabetes units managed fewer than six children with type 2 diabetes – paediatric teams are often not familiar with the more progressive nature of early onset type 2 diabetes and the need for early intervention and aggressive treatment.   

The training will therefore allow learners to refresh and further increase their skills in managing type 2 diabetes and help them to keep up to date with the latest treatments and guidance. 

Each session takes about 30 minutes to complete and is primarily aimed at staff working in specialist children and young adult diabetes services. It would also be useful for doctors, consultants, nurses, dietitians, psychology staff and youth workers. 

For more information and to access the sessions, please visit the Managing Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Young People programme page.