‘It’s all about helping as many other families as we can’
It is very easy to fall into the trap of thinking Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are the same thing. In reality, they’re very different, as Mark Smith explains...
Afamily who lost their son to undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes are backing a new campaign to raise awareness of the condition and the dangers of late diagnosis.
Beth and Stuart Baldwin, together with their daughter Lia, 11, have raised almost £70,000 for charity since their son Peter died in January 2015.
Despite showing typical symptoms of Type 1 diabetes like extreme fatigue, weight loss, and frequently needing to go to the toilet, the 13-year-old was not diagnosed until he was already seriously ill and passed away just days later.
Beth said: “Losing a child
Tis beyond anyone’s worst nightmare. It’s something that no family should have to go through and now it’s our mission to make sure that parents and medical professionals have the symptoms of Type 1 at the front of their minds. “Type 1 diabetes can be easily mistaken for viral infections or other illnesses. “Peter was very unwell with a chest infection at the time, which made the symptoms of his Type 1 diabetes harder to identify. “We need to be much more vigilant if we’re going to put a stop to completely preventable deaths. “The symptoms are simply toilet, tired, thirsty, thinner. If your child has any of these, trust your instinct and insist that they are tested.
“Being able to recognise the symptoms, get a quick diagnosis, and early treatment could save your child’s life.
“This is Peter’s legacy, and it’s all about helping as many other families as we can.”
About one in five children with Type 1 diabetes in Wales aren’t diagnosed until they are in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical attention.
The Know Type 1 campaign, which launches in line with Diabetes Week (June 11-17) is focussed specifically on the importance of recognising the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes, commonly known as the “four Ts” to the public and healthcare professionals:
Toilet – going to the toilet a lot, bed wetting by a previously dry child, or heavier nappies in babies
Thirsty – being really thirsty and not being able to quench the thirst
Tired – feeling more tired than usual
Thinner – losing weight or looking thinner than usual
Suspected cases of Type 1 diabetes can be identified with a simple finger prick test which takes less than a minute.
Beth added: “Parents generally know what the symptoms of many other life-threatening conditions are.
“When it comes to conditions like meningitis, people know to look out for spots on the skin and they know to put a glass on the spots.
“But does every parent know what to look out for with Type 1 diabetes? They don’t – and it’s vital that they do.
“With the Know Type 1 campaign we want to open people’s eyes to Type 1 and its symptoms, because that really can save lives.”
Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition that affects about 1,400 children and young people in Wales, as well as around 18,600 adults.
People with the condition don’t produce the hormone insulin, which is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose in the blood.
Type 1 diabetes isn’t currently preventable and nobody knows what causes it but the signs and symptoms can develop very quickly.
Dai Williams, director of Diabetes UK Cymru said: “Working with the Baldwin family on the Know Type 1 campaign is a privilege for all of us here at Diabetes UK Cymru. “Raising awareness of the symptoms and how simple it is to test for suspected cases of Type 1 diabetes is crucial work that will help more families get a quick diagnosis and will enable children with Type 1 to have access to life-saving treatment.
“We’re urging people to be more vocal about the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes. Talk to your friends, family, acquaintances, and colleagues about the tell-tale signs.
“We want everyone in Wales to be aware of the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes – toilet, thirsty, tired, thinner – and go to their doctor immediately if they spot any of them.”
Diabetes UK Cymru will officially launch the Know Type 1 campaign at the Pierhead Building in Cardiff Bay on June 13.
Diabetes UK Cymru would like to encourage anyone who is linked to or lives with Type 1 to get involved and also attend the event.
Information and online registration at www.eiseverywhere.com/ereg/newreg.