Diabetic pupils call for support

Cole has moved school because of his condition

A six-year-old boy from Hampshire will be joining fellow diabetic pupils to lobby MPs for more support in schools.

Cole Barnard from Fareham, will join 200 young people on Tuesday asking Parliament to act.

Diabetes UK said teachers did not always have sufficient knowledge of the facts behind the condition.

Cole, who has to eat lunch at 1200 GMT as part of his treatment, had to eat alone at his previous school because its lunch hour began 15 minutes later.

His father John Barnard said: "He would come home crying saying he didn't want diabetes and that he didn't want to eat alone.

'Families suffer'

"As a parent it is really heart-breaking to see your boy crying over something which can be fixed."

The six-year-old was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in September 2007.

His new school now organises his menu and he can eat with his friends.

His mother Katharine said: "Cole is back to being our little boy and we can't tell you how the quality of life for the whole family has improved."

Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: "For every child with diabetes who doesn't receive appropriate support at school, a whole family suffers.

"With an estimated 2,000 children being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes every year in the UK, action must be taken now."