Mum backs diabetes campaign (From Warrington Guardian)

Mum backs diabetes campaign

3:30pm Thursday 15th November 2012 in News

A WOOLSTON mum is backing a campaign to help parents recognise the main symptoms of Type 1 diabetes after her son was diagnosed last year.

Brave 12-year-old Harry was taken to the doctors by mum Louise Leah after she noticed he had lost a lot of weight and appeared poorly after performing in his school nativity play in December 2011.

Louise, of Dam Lane, said: “We thought he had got a cold but he looked washed out and was drinking a lot and then going to the toilet a lot.

“We took him to the doctors who spotted the symptoms quickly and said he could have become very poorly very quickly so we were lucky.

“We were devastated as diabetes was not something we had thought about or knew anyone in the family who had it but he’s took it on the chin.”

Since then the King’s Leadership Academy pupil has learnt to inject himself with insulin four times a day and is ‘not letting diabetes stop him from doing anything’.

The proud mum has had support from Warrington Children’s Diabetic Association, who she says have been fantastic, but also believes it is vital to raise awareness of the Diabetes UK 4 T’s campaign; toilet, thirsty, tired, thinner.

A charity survey found nine out of 10 parents did not know the four main symptoms of Type 1 diabetes including excessive thirst, tiredness/lack of energy, frequently passing urine and weight loss which meant a quarter of children with the condition were being diagnosed when they were seriously ill with life threatening condition diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

Helen Pattie, Diabetes UK north west regional manager, said: “We need to get the message across that if you have a child or if you work with children, you need to make it your business to know the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes.”

The campaign will also be targeting healthcare staff including GPs and practice nurses to ensure children are tested quickly.

Harry added: “I want people to know diabetes doesn't stop me from doing anything so don’t be frightened of it.”

Call John on 077250 71898 for details of the Warrington Children’s Diabetic Association.