Call for a million people to get Type 1 aware
15 Jun 2012 10:53 AM
People are being urged to take five minutes from their busy lives to make themselves aware of the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes – and help prevent the trauma of late diagnosis – by watching a new online video.
Diabetes UK and JDRF, the Type 1 diabetes charity, have launched a video featuring children living with Type 1 diabetes and showing the most common symptoms of the condition. About 2,000 children a year are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and a quarter of these are only diagnosed when they are hospitalised.
Why does this happen?
The severe lack of insulin within the body upsets the body’s normal chemical balance and causes ketones to be produced. These are poisonous chemicals which, if left unchecked, and combined with high blood glucose levels, can result in serious illness, and even coma and death. This is known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
Although there is currently no cure for Type 1 diabetes, early diagnosis can prevent emergency hospitalisation. This is why, during Diabetes Week, the two charities have produced the new video to raise awareness among parents, carers, teachers and healthcare professionals that symptoms of the condition include:
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Increased thirst
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Increased urination
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Weight loss
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Extreme tiredness.
One million views
By aiming to get one million people to watch the video before World Diabetes Day in November, Diabetes UK hope to raise awareness of the symptoms of the condition. If people know the symptoms then they are much more likely to be diagnosed before they reach life threatening DKA and so reduce their chances of becoming seriously ill.
Video and other links