Warning signs of type 1 diabetes could save a life
DIABETES has increasingly become an epidemic in our society, with a rise in type 2 diabetes being driven by increasing obesity in the community.
A lot of effort is being made to educate the public and health professionals about prevention and management of this type of diabetes.
However, what is sometimes lost in this message is that previously normal healthy, happy children who are not overweight and have no history in the family can still develop diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in childhood and is sadly underrecognised. These children are often not overweight and the eventual diagnosis is not influenced by dietary factors such as sugary drink intake prior to the diagnosis.
Though similar in name, type 1 and type 2 diabetes are very different conditions. Type 1 is an auto- immune problem which leads to an inability to secrete insulin. Type 2 is a condition where the body can still make insulin, but does not respond well. They are managed very differently.
A delay in diagnosing type 1 diabetes can lead to a condition known as Diabetic Keto- acidosis ( DKA), a medical emergency and the leading cause of death in type 1 patients. Studies show that the early diagnosis of childhood type 1 diabetes through increased education in the community will lead to a reduction in the rate of DKA.
What do you need to know? If you have a child or are caring for a child who has one or more of the following symptoms, please consult your GP as soon as possible for a blood glucose check.
1. Increased thirst outside of normal for Townsville climate
2. Increased urine output – particularly watch out for new overnight wetting/ accidents or toilet trips 3. Weight loss for an unexplained reason 4. More tired than normal, needing day time naps, not able to do normal activities
This is a simple finger- prick in any practice or health centre.
This very simple advice can be the difference between a diabetes diagnosis in a well child and a critically ill child requiring intensive care support. Everyone in the community plays a part in making sure we do not miss this very important diagnosis in an otherwise healthy child.