Team work and shared responsibility are an important part of these OB courses. Each student is there as an individual to try new activities and overcome personal challenges, but the participants are also part of a group and are expected to keep an eye out for each other. It is rare for BDA staff to have to treat hypoglycemic attacks. Generally fellow students deal with them at the first sign that all is not well. Students teach each other how to monitor blood glucose levels and all sorts of new tricks with injection techniques and diabetic problem solving. As the course progresses they take a pride in sorting themselves out. Weaker students are supervised by more able ones, with continuous encouragement and support. Many of the activities are team challenges with everyone in the group contributing. The idea of taking responsibility for other people may come strangely to a young person who has been diabetic for a long time. Generally, the person with diabetes is the one who is looked after. Yet because of this, people with diabetes are good at looking after other people and are sensitive to their needs.

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DIABETES