Diabetes is one of the most common long-term health conditions affecting children and young people in the UK. In a school of any reasonable size, there will almost certainly be pupils managing diabetes day to day — navigating blood glucose levels, monitoring equipment, insulin, and the particular challenges that come with doing all of that in a busy, social, and often unpredictable school environment.
More Than Sugar is a 20–25 minute on-demand CPD course designed for all school staff, regardless of role or prior knowledge. Using plain language and school-based scenarios, it provides a clear and accessible introduction to what diabetes is, how it affects pupils in the school day, how to recognise when something is wrong, and what to do about it.
This is an awareness course. Staff who complete it will not be qualified to administer clinical treatment, but they will know enough to recognise a diabetic episode when they see one, to act appropriately in the first critical moments, and to support pupils with diabetes to feel confident and included rather than anxious or singled out.
What the course covers
- What diabetes is, the difference between Type 1 and Type 2, and why the common myth about sugar needs to be challenged
- How diabetes affects a pupil’s day-to-day experience at school, including blood glucose monitoring, insulin management, mealtimes, and physical activity
- What an individual healthcare plan is and why staff should know where it is and what it says
- The signs of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and why they can be mistaken for tiredness, distraction, or poor behaviour
- The signs of hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar) and how it differs from a hypo
- How to respond if a pupil shows signs of a hypo or hyper, including when to call 999
- Post-incident responsibilities: recording what happened, communicating with parents and relevant staff, and supporting the pupil sensitively
Who it is for
This course is suitable for all staff in schools and educational settings, including teachers, teaching assistants, lunchtime supervisors, office and support staff, and any other adult working with or around pupils. No prior medical knowledge is assumed. It is particularly valuable for staff who may not have received formal diabetes awareness training and for schools wanting to ensure whole-staff confidence around this common condition.
