The Royal United Hospital (RUH) NHS Foundation Trust’s Paediatric Diabetes Team is helping to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes in children, as part of World Diabetes Day today (Monday 14th November).
Dr Clare Edmonds, Consultant Paediatrician, at the RUH said: “Type 1 diabetes is very different from the more common Type 2 and early diagnosis is key. Type 1 Diabetes is becoming more prevalent especially in younger children, as the diagnosis can be more difficult to spot.”
This unfortunately, was the case for Patricia Welsh, an administrator at the RUH.
She said: “Four years ago, my daughter was admitted to the RUH critically ill with what I later found out was Diabetic Ketoacidosis. When the condition was explained to me, I realised that all the signs and symptoms had been present for an extended period; and guilt followed.
“Although I could not have prevented the condition developing, had I known the signs and symptoms perhaps I could have prevented her admission to intensive care.”
Patricia wants others to learn from her experience. She continued: “If through this awareness campaign even one family can avoid the trauma of a late diagnosis that for me would be a silver lining.”
Early diagnosis can help treatment and a patient’s long term health.
The 4 Ts highlight the four most common signs which can help people spot the symptoms.
They are:
- Toilet – is the person going to the toilet a lot, bed wetting by a previously dry child or heavier nappies in babies?
- Thirsty – is the person really thirsty and not able to quench their thirst?
- Tired – is the person feeling more tired than usual?
- Thinner – is the person losing weight or looking thinner than usual?
Dr Edmonds concluded: “The symptoms can often be attributed to normal childhood behaviors, for example not going to bed early enough and being tired due to school and other activities.
“But if they are also drinking lots of fluid, going to the toilet more frequently, having naps and there’s signs of weight loss, do see your GP and tell them that the signs for Type 1 Diabetes have been recognised.”
Further information about Type 1 Diabetes can be found on Bath, Wiltshire & North Somerset Diabetes Service website: bathdiabetes.org or www.diabetes.org.uk.
