After a few months of conducting the survey, we bring you the top-line highlights of the survey results to date. The full survey analysis finished in September 2021.
Perspectives from coaches & trainers and school gym teachers
Some 160 coaches, trainers and gym teachers (later referred to as “coaches”) responded to the survey, the two main objectives of which were to evaluate their knowledge of diabetes in general, and specifically their understanding of how to handle diabetes and sports, and to examine their questions and concerns they may have when having a child/young person with diabetes in their team.
General knowledge of diabetes among this group was relatively low. While 90% of coaches knew that there is more than one type of diabetes, the proportion knowing that most children live with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) fell to 42%, and close to half of them rated their knowledge of T1D as either poor or very poor.
This lack of knowledge did not translate into major negative concerns relating to coaching youths and children. A vast majority of coaches (71%) did not have any concerns or worries that there might be issues with young PwD engaging in sporting activities. Nevertheless, 44% suggested they had questions regarding the need to treat youngsters living with diabetes in their team differently from other players.
Can a child/young person with diabetes engage in sporting activities?
Does a child/person with diabetes need to be treated differently from others?
A high proportion of coaches felt quite confident that they would know how to deal with a problem during practice/games involving a young person living with diabetes. That said, close to 40% reported not being confident about it, suggesting that there is a real need for more education to help coaches better understand diabetes and create a safe environment for young people with diabetes.
Will I know how to deal with with situation if a problem occurs with a child/young person's diabetes during sport?
Will the child/young person be able to control his/her blood sugar while doing sport (also before/after)?
Dealing with low (hypoglycaemia) and high (hyperglycaemia) blood sugar levels were coaches’ most prominent concerns, reported by around 60% of them each.
How concerned are you about a child/young person getting hypoglycaemia before/during/after the training?
How concerned are you about a child/young person getting hyperglycaemia before/during/after the training?
With regard to the prerequisites to maintaining adequate blood sugar levels, coaches expressed most interest in understanding more how to manage hypo- and hyperglycaemia and the mechanics of blood sugar levels.
Area of most interest to the coaches, relating to maintaining adequate blood sugar levels
Perspectives from children between 6 and 12 years old
Some 80 children, aged six to 12 years of age, took part in the survey. The survey’s main objective for this age group was to understand how they felt in relation to engaging in sporting activities.
Overall, more than three-quarters of children reported that their diabetes had not prevented them from engaging in sport.
Has living with diabetes ever prevented you from doing sport at school or in a sport club?
Nevertheless, close to two-thirds were wondering whether the coach/trainer would know what to do if a problem occurred. A high proportion was also not sure how to manage their blood sugar levels, since this is often still done for them by their parents or caregivers.
I was wondering whether the coach would know how to deal with the situation if a problem occurred with my diabetes during training/game?
I was not sure how to manage my diabetes when exercising?
I was worried about having too low blood sugar levels during exercise?
I was worried about having too high blood sugar levels during exercise?
Experiencing low blood sugar was a major worry for just over 60% of children. A slightly lower proportion also worried about having too high sugar levels. Related to this, close to half the children did not like having to manage their blood sugar during practice/games.
I do not like having to manage my diabetes?
Having to stop playing during practice/games was also of much concern to children who were worried that they would let their friends down.
I worry about having to stop during exercise/game (and letting my friends down)?
Perspectives from young people between 13 and 25 years old
Some 138 teenargers (13 to 25) took part in the survey. As with the younger age group, the survey’s main objective for this age group was to understand how they felt in relation to engaging in sporting activities, and what barriers they may encounter that would discourage them from taking part.
Just under 60% of teens in the survey practiced sport at school or in a club. Living with diabetes did not appear to be a major obstacle to participation, as more than three-quarters of them reported that their diabetes had not prevented them from engaging in sport.
Do you practice sport at school or in a sport club?
Some 15% reported that, at some point, they had not been able to practice sports because of the fact that their teacher/coach did not let them do it.
My teacher/coach did not let me do sport?
A high 40% of participants did have concerns about their ability to take part in sport while living with diabetes, and an even greater proportion worried that not all sports would be suitable for them.
I was wondering if I could participate in sport activities generally?
I was wondering whether I could do all the sport activities I was to / are there any limits to my doing sport?
Some 40% of teeneagers also wondered if they would be welcome by the coach to join the team if the coach knew they lived with diabetes, and a much greater proportion than in the younger age group questioned the ablity of their coaches to know how to deal with any problems arising from their diabetes.
I wondered whether the coach would welcome me if they knew I have diabetes?
I wonder whether the coach would know how to deal with the situation id a problem occurred with my diabetes during training/game?
This is all the more important to address than more than half the teenagers reported not being confident of managing their blood sugar well during and around sporting time.
Having to stop during practice/games because of the need to manage their diabetes was a burden for 56% of people in this group.
I was not sure how to control my BG while doing sport?
I was worried about having to stop during the excercise/game (and letting my teammates down)?
How concerned are you of getting hypo during/after training?
How concerned are you of getting hyper during/after training?
Perspectives from parents of children/young people living with diabetes
Some 188 parents of children living with diabetes responded to the survey, the main focus of which was to understand how they felt about their child participating in sport and what their views were on how their children themselves perceived it and what their key areas of concerns are.
Some 83% of parents reported that their child participate in sport. This was despite 40% of them being concerned about their child’s welcome by the coach/teacher, and 48% wondering whether their child would be treated differently from the other players in the team.
Does your child currently practice sport at school or sport club?
I wondered whether my child will be welcome by the coach?
Outlining the complexity of diabetes management and the potential seriousness of hypoglycaemic events, 86% of the parents wondered if the coach would be able to deal with problems arising from a child’s diabetes.
I worry about what will happen if my child develops hypoglycaemia?
I wondered whether the coach will know how to deal with the situation if a problem occurs with my child's diabetes?
For that matter, the possibility for their child to experience hypoglycaemia was a concern for 83% of parents.
Conversely, only about a quarter of parents were concerned about public reactions to their child managing their diabetes in public.