Samuel the Diabetic Scout

I’m a bit behind on this one. I meant to blog about it last week.

I was asked by Samuel’s Scout leader to come and talk to the local troop about Diabetes. I’ve done a bit of speaking before in a previous life in marketing. And as a Sunday School leader at our local church, I am used to talking to children.

The Scouts are working on their First Aid badge at the minute. And they are also trying to re-inforce one of the key messages of the Scout promise – caring for others.

With this in mind, I talked to them for about 30 minutes about Diabetes. Both type 1 and type 2. What it is. Who get’s it. How they get it. What the symptoms of hypoglycaemia are. And what to do if they come across someone who might be having a hypoglycemic event. Hopefully, with this under their belt, they will be more understanding of diabetics and their condition. And will have the ammunion to help any diabetic’s they ever come across who are struggling with their condition.

Samuel was there of course and was more than a bit worried that I would make it about him, and embarrass him in front of his friends. But I tried to keep it light and also made it very general. And he said afterwards that it wasn’t too bad, and that I only mentioned him twice. I thought it was funny that he counted!

I think the Scout’s enjoyed it. I got a round of applause at the end, although that might just have been their normal polite response to everyone – not just me. And more than anything, I hope that they will have taken some of it on board!