How to watch out for child diabetes
Support group set up by two mothers
Two mothers whose children both suffer from diabetes are warning other parents to watch out for life-threatening symptoms of the condition.
Vicky Shaw, aged 31, and Rebecca Smith, 32, have set up a support group to help affected parents cope with the confusion of a child's diagnosis.
The pair hope to raise awareness of the condition, which must be controlled daily with insulin, to inform other parents as part of National Diabetes Week.
Rebecca whose daughter Bethany was diagnosed with type one diabetes when she was three, said: "There is a lot of stigma attached to diabetes and people sometimes assume that it is because the child is eating lots of junk food. This is simply not the case.
"Diabetes is on the rise in the three to five age group and we are keen to highlight that even if there is no family history anyone's child could be at risk."
Group members, who meet once a month, support each other through the often traumatic impact of having a child with the condition.
Vicky, whose son Joshua must inject insulin up to five times a day, said: "When you hear the diagnosis you go into a grieving process – it is almost like you are losing a child.
"That coupled with a stressful daily routine of finger pricks and injections can have a real psychological impact and as a group we support each other."
But group meetings are not without their horror stories.
Vicky added: "One mother in the group visited the GP with her child five times before giving up and going to A&E.
"When she arrived they told her that if she had come to the hospital a day later her child would have died.
"As a group we want to let other parents know what to look out for, to avoid these life-threatening situations."
The Bedfordshire Diabetes Support Group meets one Tuesday a month from 7pm until 9pm.
To find out more you can email rebeccasmith1976@yahoo.co.uk or vicshaw@uwclub.netTell tale signs that your child may have diabetes:
Severe thirst: Suffering children have been known to go to extraordinary lengths to have a drink including drinking bath water
Bed wetting: Children who normally have a dry night may start to wet the bed
Constant visits to the toilet: Parents have reported their children visiting the toilet up to eight times per hour
Weight loss
Acetone/fruity breath: If your child has breath that smells like fruity sweets see a doctor immediately.
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