Survey Finds Parents Miss Diabetes Warning Signs

The four key symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children are missed by around 90% of parents, a survey suggests.

The main signs are tiredness, needing the toilet more, excessive thirst and weight loss.

However, a Diabetes UK poll of 1,170 parents suggests many cases go undetected until the child becomes seriously ill.

An estimated 3.7 million people in the UK have diabetes.

Type 1 affects about 10% of them. It appears before the age of 40, usually in childhood. It is treated by daily insulin doses - taken either by injections or via an insulin pump - a healthy diet and regular physical activity

Type 2 develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly.

Most of the parents surveyed knew tiredness and thirst were warning signs, but only 38% knew passing urine frequently was an indication of type 1 diabetes. Even fewer - 28% - linked weight loss with the condition.

Diabetes UK is launching a campaign to raise awareness among parents and professionals.

Barbara Young, chief executive for Diabetes UK, said: "The symptoms of type 1 diabetes are so obvious and pronounced that there is no reason why every child with the condition cannot be diagnosed straight away.

"As well as making parents and those who look after and work with children aware of the symptoms, we need to increase understanding that a child who has any of the four tees needs to be tested straight away.

"This is because onset can be so quick that a delay of a matter of hours can be the difference between being diagnosed at the right time and being diagnosed too late."

(H)