Supporting Students with Diabetes in Higher Education: Awareness, Challenges and Available Support
Diabetes remains one of the most prevalent long‑term health conditions in the UK. Current estimates indicate that over 3 million people live with a diagnosis of diabetes, making it one of the nation’s most significant and rapidly increasing health challenges. Despite its prevalence, awareness and understanding of diabetes—particularly its impact on daily functioning and education—remain limited.
Understanding Diabetes
The term diabetes encompasses several conditions, most commonly Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, each of which requires different approaches to management, treatment, and support. Due to this variation, a single, standardised model of support is rarely sufficient. Individualised care is essential to protecting long‑term health outcomes.
Without appropriate management, diabetes can significantly affect overall health and life expectancy. Although treatment and technology have advanced considerably in recent years, access to consistent, high‑quality support is still not uniform. Increasing awareness, particularly in educational settings, plays a vital role in ensuring that individuals receive the adjustments and understanding they need.
Diabetes in Education
Students living with diabetes often balance the demands of study alongside the ongoing requirement to monitor and manage their condition. This may include:
- Managing fatigue
- Variations in concentration due to blood glucose levels
- Effects on stamina
- Managing stress relating to medication storage or use in shared environments
- Ensuring access to appropriate food, equipment, and monitoring throughout the day
These challenges can affect the learning experience, but with the right support in place, students with diabetes achieve highly across all fields of study.
Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA)
Students with diabetes entering or currently enrolled in higher education may be eligible for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA). DSA is a non‑repayable grant designed to provide practical support for individuals whose health condition affects their studies.
Depending on assessed need and funding‑body approval, support may include:
- A study‑capable laptop (with a small student contribution where applicable)
- Text‑to‑speech software to support effective proofreading
- Note‑taking or lecture‑capture software that provides synchronised audio and visual notes
- An external microphone or digital voice recorder for capturing lectures (where permitted)
- Allowances for printing or photocopying
- Access to a personal refrigerator for safe medication storage
- Training on any recommended assistive software
Please note: DSA support is tailored to individual needs. Not all support listed above will apply in every case, and all recommendations are subject to approval from the relevant funding body.
Our Commitment
Ensuring that students with diabetes receive the appropriate support is essential to enabling them to thrive within higher education and beyond. With the right adjustments, individuals with diabetes contribute significantly to academic communities, research, and the wider workforce.
For students, parents, or practitioners seeking guidance, we encourage contacting Access2Learn to discuss eligibility and the support available through the Disabled Students’ Allowances.