First steps for adopting ADAPT

STEP 1: Understand the need

It is important to be aware of the need for the ADAPT programme. There are two key factors here to consider:

  1. Students with diabetes do not do well at university. Do you know what the situation is at your university?

  2. Currently, there are far fewer students with diabetes than expected based on statistics, suggesting young people with diabetes choose not to go to university.

  3. Not doing anything is a risk.

STEP 2: Talk to stakeholders

  1. Students or staff with type 1 diabetes

  2. Well-being/disability team

  3. On-campus or nearby NHS primary care team

  4. Nearby local specialist diabetes team

STEP 3: Start simple

The first step is to find a staff member with good knowledge about diabetes. There might be a staff member with diabetes who is keen on taking a lead in coordinating a team of people on campus and setting up a monthly group for students with diabetes.

Another step to be taken is to take stock. Ask your teams the following five questions:

  1. How many students with type 1 diabetes are there in our university? If you do not know, why not, given the risks these students experience?

  2. How many students with type 1 diabetes are registered with the well-being/disability service? Among adults, the prevalence rate of type 1 diabetes is 0.32% of the population.

  3. How many students with type 1 diabetes are given reasonable adjustment during exams (if not 100% of them, why do they think that is the case)

  4. How many students with type 1 diabetes drop out from your university?

  5. Do we know where most of our university students receive primary care and have we spoken with the health care team there how students with diabetes can be supported?

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