Diabetic schoolboy presented with certificate of achievement after independently measuring blood sugar levels for first time

A little boy with type one diabetes has received a certificate of achievement from his school after taking his own blood glucose measurements by himself for the very first time.

Smithy Bridge Primary School pupil Ethan Rothwell, aged eight, was presented with the certificate on Friday (29 March) after measuring his own blood glucose levels via a fingerprick for the first time the previous week.

Type one diabetes is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin, the hormone that controls the amount of sugar in your blood. It requires regular administration of insulin either by injection or by insulin pump.

Ethan was diagnosed with the condition just under two years ago, trusting only a select few family members and, later, teachers to carry out the fingerprick test to measure his glucose levels.

Ethan’s blood glucose must be measured around eight times a day, plus the administration of insulin to regulate his sugar levels.

The brave youngster took his own readings independently for the first time on Friday 22 March.

His mum, Louise Rothwell said: “It was so difficult and life changing as it would be for any child, but Ethan soon settled into the routine of me doing his bloods. Then, slowly, he let my partner and his dad do the bloods and eventually administer his insulin.

“I can’t fault Smithy Bridge Primary School; they were fantastic in accommodating Ethan’s requirements and needs. A small group of teachers never gave up trying to help Ethan overcome certain fears which eventually paid off as he allowed Mrs Clegg and Mrs Howells to do his bloods.

This was a huge breakthrough for all of us. We were all so proud of Ethan for taking that next step of his brave journey in learning to live with diabetes.

“Ethan gained trust in his new teachers, and in time Mrs Booth took over doing Ethan’s bloods. After a while Miss Irvine came into our lives. Ethan warmed to her straight away and has come on leaps since having Miss Irvine to help him through his school day.

“With Miss Irvine’s trust and her gentle approach, trying new ways of engaging and trying to help Ethan, progress paid off when Ethan told me he did his bloods himself.

“The insulin we have yet to conquer as this will take a lot more time, but I am so proud of Ethan.”

Headteacher Chris Crook said: “We are all very proud of Ethan here at Smithy Bridge Primary School. Courageously, Ethan has taken a huge step towards independently managing his diabetes this week. He is now testing his own blood sugar levels for the first time.

“This is a significant milestone for Ethan, his family and the school as previously, Ethan would only allow very trusted people to do it. This has all been as a result of fantastic, caring and patient staff, excellent relationships between school and family, and, most importantly, a very special, brave and determined young boy.”