Scroliwch i lawr am Gymraeg

Cwm Taf Morgannwg Team Brings SEREN Connect to Life

On 2 July, the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Diabetes Team delivered an inspiring one-day SEREN Connect session at the Marriott Hotel in Cardiff. This innovative event brought together paediatric and adult teams to create a dynamic, engaging, and memorable experience for young people living with diabetes.

A Multidisciplinary Effort

Led by Paediatric Diabetes Specialist Nurse Jo Lloyd-Jones, the session included a multidisciplinary team of Paediatric Specialist Nurses Aimee Grimwood and Laura Young, Clinical Psychologist Dr Jess Broughton, Paediatric Dietitian Emily Forrester, Consultant Paediatrician Dr Ashleigh Dymond and Dr Anu Sharma, and Adult Diabetes Nurses Beth Mumford and Lisa Tiani-Tanzi, who run the young adult service at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil.

Creative and Real-Life Learning

The team went beyond simply delivering the programme; they brought it to life with creative and interactive activities. Young people took part in a simulated night out, choosing from mock drinks and takeaway foods before discussing how to manage their insulin around different combinations. They role-played scenarios such as driving with friends while being ‘interrupted’ by Jo Lloyd-Jones flashing a pretend glucose reading, which led to discussions about managing tricky glucose levels behind the wheel. A powerful exercise invited participants to write their stresses, including exams, sleep, and social pressures on balloons and then juggling them. This sparked conversations about coping strategies and the importance of asking for help as they become young adults.

Feedback from Young People

Participants described the day as fun, informative, and a great chance to connect with peers facing similar challenges. One young person said, “Being around other diabetics my age helped me realise I’m not alone.” Others appreciated learning about important topics like managing alcohol, driving with diabetes, pregnancy, and planning for the future. Many found the sessions engaging, and the interactive format kept them interested throughout.

‘It was alright, yeah. I made a friend. I’ve never had a friend with diabetes before.’

 

Reflections from Staff

Jo Lloyd-Jones reflected, “Everyone fell naturally into their roles supporting our young people throughout the day. The presence of adult team members Beth and Lisa really enhanced the experience.” Consultant Paediatrician Dr Shikha Jain described the event as “fantastic work,” while Senior Nurse for the Community Children’s Service for Children and Young People, Lucy Collins highlighted the crucial role of robust transition support in improving long-term outcomes for young people.

A Parent’s Perspective

The impact extended beyond the session itself. One parent shared, “He has been extremely difficult over the last few months, but yesterday he came home beaming. It’s like he’s a new person.” This heartfelt feedback highlights the positive difference this approach can make in young people’s lives.

Looking Ahead

Transition Coordinator Sara Crowley, who observed the day, summed it up:

“It was incredibly powerful to see the vision behind SEREN Connect fully realised. This meaningful and engaging programme is exactly what young adults need. The team’s creativity and dedication truly deserve recognition.”

 

It was also fantastic to see the real connections being made. This reflects the core purpose of the programme. Young people were connecting meaningfully with their healthcare professionals, with each other, and with the realities of managing diabetes in their own lives. These kinds of connections are essential if we are serious about improving long-term outcomes and ensuring that every young person receives the support they need to thrive.

Congratulations to everyone involved in making this day such a success.

Your work is setting a new standard for transitional diabetes care, one we hope to see replicated in other areas. 

Programmes like SEREN Connect thrive when there is dedicated resource to support them. Hosting the session outside of routine clinical settings and bringing together both paediatric and adult teams allowed for a creative, engaging, and developmentally appropriate approach. This kind of facilitated experience helps young people build the skills, confidence, and relationships they need to manage diabetes as part of their adult lives. Sustaining these opportunities is essential if we are to improve outcomes and ensure that transition is not just a stage, but a supported journey.

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Scroliwch lan am Saesneg

“Hwyl a Diabetes yn yr Un Frawddeg”

Tîm Cwm Taf Morgannwg yn Dod â SEREN Connect yn Fyw

Ar 2il o Orffennaf, cynhaliodd Tîm Diabetes Cwm Taf Morgannwg sesiwn undydd SEREN Connect ysbrydoledig yn Nhŷ Gwesty’r Marriott yng Nghaerdydd. Daeth y digwyddiad arloesol hwn ag aelodau o dimau pediatrig ac oedolion at ei gilydd i greu profiad deinamig, ymgysylltiol a chofiadwy i bobl ifanc sy’n byw gyda diabetes.

Ymdrech Aml-ddisgyblaethol

O dan arweiniad y Nyrs Arbenigol Diabetes Pediatrig Jo Lloyd-Jones, roedd y tîm aml-ddisgyblaethol yn cynnwys y Nyrsys Arbenigol Pediatrig Aimee Grimwood a Laura Young, y Seicolegydd Clinigol Dr Jess Broughton, y Deietegydd Pediatrig Emily Forrester, yr Ymgynghorydd Pediatrig Dr Ashleigh Dymond, DR Anu Sharma, a’r Nyrsys Diabetes Oedolion Beth Mumford a Lisa Tiani-Tanzi, sy’n arwain y gwasanaeth pobl ifanc oedolion yn Ysbyty’r Tywysog Siarl ym Merthyr Tudful.

Dysgu Creadigol a Bywyd Go Iawn

Aeth y tîm y tu hwnt i ddarparu’r rhaglen yn unig; fe wnaethant ei dod â’n fyw drwy weithgareddau  creadigol ac ymgysylltiol. Cymerodd pobl ifanc ran mewn ‘noson allan’ efelychiadol, gan ddewis o ddiodydd a bwydydd parod ffug cyn trafod sut i reoli eu hinswlin o gwmpas cyfuniadau gwahanol. Roeddent yn actio senarios megis gyrru gyda ffrindiau tra bod Jo Lloyd-Jones yn dangos darlleniad glwcos, gan arwain at drafodaethau am reoli lefelau glwcos anodd wrth y llyw. Mewn ymarfer pwerus, gofynnwyd i gyfranogwyr ysgrifennu eu straeniau  gan gynnwys arholiadau, cwsg a phwysau cymdeithasol ar balwns, ac yna ceisio eu jyglo. Arweiniodd hyn at sgyrsiau am strategaethau ymdopi a phwysigrwydd gofyn am gymorth wrth dyfu’n oedolion ifanc.

Adborth gan Bobl Ifanc

Disgrifiodd y rhai a fynychodd y diwrnod fel un hwyliog, llawn gwybodaeth, ac yn gyfle gwych i gysylltu â chyfoedion sy’n wynebu heriau tebyg. Dywedodd un person ifanc, “Roedd bod o amgylch diabetwyr fy oedran yn helpu fi sylweddoli nad ydw i ar ben fy hun.” Roedd eraill yn gwerthfawrogi dysgu am bynciau pwysig fel rheoli alcohol, gyrru gyda diabetes, beichiogrwydd a chynllunio ar gyfer y dyfodol. Canmolodd llawer y sesiynau a’r fformat rhyngweithiol a gadwodd eu diddordeb drwy gydol y dydd.

‘Roedd yn iawn, ie. Wnes i wneud ffrind.Doedd gen i erioed ffrind gyda diabetes o’r blaen.’

Adborth gan Staff

Meddai Jo Lloyd-Jones, “Roedd pawb yn cymryd eu rhan yn naturiol wrth gefnogi ein pobl ifanc drwy gydol y dydd. Gwnaeth presenoldeb aelodau’r tîm oedolion, Beth a Lisa, wir wella’r profiad.” Disgrifiodd yr Ymgynghorydd Pediatrig Dr Shikha Jain y digwyddiad fel “gwaith gwych,” tra amlygodd y Uwch Nyrs Gwasanaethau Cenedlaethol i Blant,, Lucy Collins rôl hollbwysig cefnogaeth drosglwyddo gadarn i wella canlyniadau hirdymor i bobl ifanc.

Persbectif Rhiant

Aeth yr effaith y tu hwnt i’r sesiwn ei hun. Rhannodd un rhiant, “Mae wedi bod yn anodd dros y misoedd diwethaf, ond ddoe daeth adref yn wên o glust i glust. Mae fel person hollol newydd.” Mae’r adborth calonogol hwn yn tynnu sylw at y gwahaniaeth cadarnhaol y gall dull fel hyn ei wneud ym mywydau pobl ifanc.

Edrych Ymlaen

Casglodd y Cydlynydd Trosglwyddo Sara Crowley, a fu’n bresennol yn arsylwi ar y diwrnod:

“Roedd yn hynod bwerus gweld gweledigaeth SEREN Connect yn cael ei gwireddu’n llawn. Mae’r rhaglen ystyrlon a chyffrous hon yn union beth mae pobl ifanc ei angen. Mae creadigrwydd a ymroddiad y tîm yn haeddu cael eu cydnabod.”

Roedd hefyd yn wych gweld y cysylltiadau gwirioneddol yn cael eu gwneud. Mae hyn yn adlewyrchu prif bwrpas y rhaglen. Roedd pobl ifanc yn cysylltu’n ystyrlon â’u gweithwyr iechyd proffesiynol, â’i gilydd, ac â realiti rheoli diabetes yn eu bywydau eu hunain. Mae’r math hwn o gysylltiad yn hanfodol os ydym o ddifrif ynghylch gwella canlyniadau hirdymor ac yn dymuno sicrhau bod pob person ifanc yn cael y cymorth sydd ei angen arnynt i ffynnu.

Llongyfarchiadau i bawb a fu’n rhan o wneud y diwrnod hwn mor llwyddiannus.

Mae eich gwaith yn gosod safon newydd ar gyfer gofal trosglwyddo diabetes – un yr hoffem ei weld yn cael ei chynnal mewn ardaloedd eraill.

Mae rhaglenni fel SEREN Connect yn ffynnu pan fo adnoddau pwrpasol ar gael i’w cefnogi. Roedd cynnal y sesiwn y tu allan i leoliadau clinigol arferol, a dod â’r timau pediatrig ac oedolion ynghyd, yn caniatáu dull creadigol, ymgysylltiol ac addas i’r cam datblygiadol. Mae’r math hwn o brofiad wedi’i hwyluso yn helpu pobl ifanc i adeiladu’r sgiliau, yr hyder a’r perthnasoedd sydd eu hangen arnynt i reoli diabetes fel rhan o’u bywydau fel oedolion. Mae cynnal cyfleoedd fel hyn yn hanfodol os ydym am wella canlyniadau ac os ydym am sicrhau nad cam yn unig yw trosglwyddo, ond taith â chefnogaeth.