Diabetes – Emergency Phone advice
When you are worried about your child’s diabetes it is important that you get the support and information that you need in a timely manner.
The diabetes emergency phone advice is provided by the diabetes nurses and diabetes dietitian. The phone advice line is available 24hours a day every day of the year.
If you need emergency advice between 9 and 5pm Monday –Friday call 0151 252 5766
If you need emergency advice outside of these hours call the hospital switchboard on 0151 228 4811 and ask for the diabetes emergency on call service.
You may need to leave a message because we are with another patient at the time of your call; however we will always try to respond to your urgent call within an hour.
If you are worried about your child’s diabetes and your child is unwell come directly to Accident and Emergency
After 10pm at night if you/ your child has
Vomited 3 or more times
Has a blood glucose level above 14mmol/L and ketones above 1.5mmol/L or has had more than 2 sick day doses and is not improving
Has not responded to hypoglycaemia treatment or you are unable to keep the blood glucose above 4mmol/L or has had a severe hypo
You are worried
Come directly to the Accident and Emergency Department
Insulin pump problems
If you have a technical problem with an insulin pump you should contact the insulin pump company customer services.
Roche Accu-chek pumps call 0800 7312291
Medtronic pumps call 01923 205167
Animas pumps call 0800 0556606
Omnipod call 0800 0926787
Please do not use this service for non urgent calls or queries. For non urgent calls please call your diabetes nurse specialist, dietitian or doctor on the numbers provided below and we will respond to your call as soon as possible. You can also email the diabetes team on .
Urgent calls
If you or your child is unable to deliver their insulin and you are unsure what to do
If your child’s blood glucose level is 14mmol/L or more and blood ketones are more than 0.6mmol/L and you are unsure what to do.
If your child is vomiting and you are unsure what to do
If you are unable to keep your child’s blood glucose above 4mmol/L and you are unsure what to do
If your call is urgent
Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm call 0151 252 5766
Out of hours call 0151 228 4811 and ask for the diabetes team on call. You will be put through to one of the diabetes team. You may have to leave a message if the person on call is dealing with another patient. We will always aim to call you back within an hour
After 10pm at night if you/ your child has
Vomited 3 or more times
Has a blood glucose level above 14mmol/L and ketones above 1.5mmol/L, or has had more than 2 sick day doses and is not improving
Has not responded to hypoglycaemia treatment, you are unable to keep the blood glucose above 4mmol/L or has had a severe hypo
You are worried
Come directly to the Accident and Emergency Department
If your call is not urgent
Please phone the appropriate diabetes team member or email us on . We may not be able to respond to your call or email on the same day.
Call your Diabetes Nurse Specialist or Diabetes Nurse on their usual number
Call the diabetes dietitians on 0151 228 5373
Call clinical psychology on 0151 252 5586
Call your diabetes consultant via the secretary on 0151 282 4518
Alder Hey Diabetes Team Out of Hours/Emergency Care October 2013