Staff at Royal Children’s Hospital have produced a video to help parents of toddlers with diabetes maintain their sanity through these difficult and challenging early years.
Minister for Health, the Hon. John Thwaites will join staff and families of toddlers with diabetes who participated in the video to celebrate the launch of ‘Here We Go ‘round the Mulberry Bush – Positive Parenting of Toddlers with Diabetes’, on Thursday 14th November, World Diabetes Day. Fifteen-per-cent of the children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at Royal Children’s Hospital each year are toddlers: that’s approximately 20 children under 5 years of age, and twice as many as were being diagnosed five years ago.

Toddlers with diabetes can be extremely difficult to care for due to their varying dietary patterns and activities. And the negative consequences of swings in blood glucose levels are greater in toddlers than in older age groups. Managing a toddler’s diet, giving insulin injections, monitoring blood glucose levels, coping with mood swings – no wonder parents feel they’re going ‘round the mulberry bush. They feel frustrated, isolated, guilty and unsupported.

The video, ‘Here We Go ’round the Mulberry Bush – Positive Parenting of Toddlers with Diabetes’ provides practical advice from parents and siblings of diabetic toddlers, and from diabetes specialists, psychologists, and other professionals. “Often the best support for parents of toddlers with diabetes comes from other parents facing similar problems,’ said Dr Fergus Cameron, diabetes specialist at RCH. ‘The video acknowledges the impact this disease has on families and the stresses that go with it. It’s a unique and innovative model of support for parents.’

‘Here We Go ’round the Mulberry Bush – Positive Parenting of Toddlers with Diabetes’ is the second in a proposed series designed to deal with issues of diabetes specific to children and teenagers. The video was devised by the staff of the RCH Endocrinology Department led by Dr Fergus Cameron and diabetic nurse educator Rebecca Gebert, and produced by Jo Griggs from the hospital’s Education Resource Centre.

Details

• EVENT: Launch of ‘Here We Go ‘round the Mulberry Bush –
• Positive Parenting of Toddlers with Diabetes’
• DATE: Thursday 14th November 2002
• TIME: 10.30AM
• PLACE: Ella Latham Meeting Room, Level 1 Royal Children’s Hospital

Interviews and picture opportunities with diabetes specialist, Dr Fergus Cameron, parents, toddlers with diabetes, and older children who were diagnosed as toddlers and who have been ‘round the mulberry bush.

Media enquiries call Julie Webber RCH Public Affairs Manager, 0407 327 418 or 9345 5522 and page.

This event appeared on Channel 7 news.