Too many children and young people aren’t diagnosed with type 1 diabetes until they are in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical attention. But by spotting the symptoms of diabetes early and having an immediate blood glucose finger prick test this can be avoided. The test takes less than a minute and could save a life. If the result suggests type 1 diabetes then the child’s GP should refer them the same day to their local specialist paediatric team so that they can get the immediate treatment they need to prevent the potentially fatal DKA.
Know Type 1
In 2018 we launched our Know Type 1 campaign with Beth Baldwin to raise awareness of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes. Beth’s son Peter tragically passed away in 2015, at the age of just 13, as a result of undiagnosed type 1 diabetes. Since then Beth and her family have been campaigning tirelessly to increase awareness of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes and the importance of an early diagnosis.
Rewrite Peter’s Story
This September we launched a new campaign with Peter’s family to Rewrite Peter’s Story and educate GP practices across the whole of Wales about the signs of type 1 diabetes. Every GP practice in Wales has been sent a fantastic new resource kit including information about type 1, how to diagnose and signpost patients and most importantly – THINK 4Ts – toilet, thirsty, tired, and, thinner! If any of these symptoms are flagged during routine appointment, we’re urging all GPs to perform a simple finger prick test to check bloody glucose levels. We’re also asking all surgeries to complete a simple checklist to become Diabetes UK Cymru Certified in the ‘4Ts’ demonstrating their commitment to recognising the symptoms of type 1 diabetes.
Here are some of our pack resources to download and use:
- A guide for GPs on early diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in English and Welsh
- The ELSA Study poster in English
- Rewrite Peter’s Story A4 poster in English and Welsh
- Rewrite Peter’s Story A6 advert in English and Welsh
How can I get involved?
There are lots of ways you can get involved in our ‘Rewrite Peter’s Story’ campaign. Why not…
- Share the message on social media
- Download our 4Ts posters and put them up in your local community, this could be in schools, the post office, your local shop or even your local pharmacy.
- Download our Partner toolkit and get involved at work
- Tell a friend about the 4Ts
- Share The ELSA Study with your friends and family
