
This is why it's so important to know the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
A family 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 is 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-thre
Continue
reading