Jackie Stewart's Websitehomepage Glasgow

Diabetes Type 1 and 2

Please do not dismiss any symptoms a child has it only takes a small easy finger tip blood sample to make sure they are ok and any doctor will gladly check it out for you. It could save your child life.

My son Joseph (diagnosed Dec '04) and my niece Rachael (diagnosed Oct '05) were both diagnosed with TYPE 1 DIABETES a few weeks before they were 10 so they wanted a special part on the site just for them. They both would like people to know that they didn't do anything wrong to themselves and it really all comes down to bad luck and not bad diet or eating too many sweets, a matter of fact they both ate very little sweets and had a healthy diet before being diagnosed.  This type of diabetes cannot be controlled with diet alone and the kids need to inject themselves with insulin at least 5 times a day. They both are patients of Yorkhill Hospital in Glasgow. It makes it a bit easier for them both being the same age and having a close member of the family to help them cope with what happened to them and also share tips on controlling diabetes.

Types of Diabetes, the differences and the symptoms to spot

Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes occurs when a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone that enables people to get energy from food. Type 1 diabetes usually strikes in childhood, although it can also affect adults. It lasts a lifetime and requires multiple daily injections of insulin and finger-prick blood glucose monitoring. A person with type 1 diabetes must constantly try to balance insulin and food intake to avoid hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar), both of which can be life threatening.

Type 2 diabetes occurs either when the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin for the body, or when the body is no longer able to use the insulin produced efficiently. Treatment includes diet control, exercise, self-monitoring of blood glucose and, in some cases, oral drugs or insulin. Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in adulthood. However, cases of type 2 diabetes are increasingly being diagnosed in younger adults and children.

Insulin is not a cure for any type of diabetes and does not stop the long term, potentially devastating effects of the condition.

Symptoms of type 1 diabetes include: extreme thirst, frequent urination, drowsiness or lethargy, sudden weight loss for no reason, sudden vision changes, fruity odour on breath, heavy or laboured breathing, stupor or unconsciousness. These symptoms may occur suddenly.

Symptoms of type 2 diabetes include: any symptoms of type 1 diabetes, recurring or hard to heal skin, gum or urinary tract infections, drowsiness, tingling of hands and feet, itching of skin and genitals.

Joseph's Information

Joseph was unfortunate to be undiagnosed for a considerable length of time and even though he was already very slim he lost a drastic amount of weight and ended up severely ill with ketoacidosis. We were on our first holiday abroad when Joseph showed severe symptoms and was rushed to a local hospital by an emergency doctor then transferred by emergency ICU ambulance to Alicante General Hospital and ended up in ICU for 5 days, then a private room for another 7 days and finally on new years day 2005 we were transferred back to Glasgow and he spent another 5 days in Yorkhill Hospital. He is doing really really well now and is now at a very healthy weight for his height and has his diabetes well under control, in fact the hospital say his results are that good that he his results are the same as a person without diabetes.

Rachael's Information

Rachael was slightly more lucky than Joseph as an unexplained rash appeared on her body and was dismissed as shingles but after a week of it not clearing up her mum took her to the out of hours service in the hospital and they diagnosed diabetes with a simple finger prick blood test. She was taken into Yorkhill hospital and started treatment straight away and was allowed home after 2 days.

Useful links the kids use and information, help and free things

Here are a couple of links the kids use and a great wee program you can download to work out the carbohydrates of some foods.

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) - This site is ideal for children with type 1 diabetes and you can apply for a free KIDSAC that includes a bear either Rufus or Ruby you can practise injecting on, adoption certificate and book for kids to learn about their diabetes (strictly for children with type 1 diabetes only). Click here to order a free KIDSAC by phone, mail or email.

Yorkhill Diabetes Service - This site gives you every bit of information straight from the diabetic team.

Lifescan - The makers of the blood testing machine they both use and lots to do on the site too.

Ultra Man - Diabetes activity website for kids.

Diabetes UK - Loads of information about diabetes for all ages. Join the diabetes weekly lottery for a chance to win money as well as donate to Diabetes research at the same time.

Carbohydrate Calculator - This program will calculate the carbohydrates in most foods as well as fast food chains. Great for diabetics.

Diabetes Risk Checker - This online checker from diabetes UK will give you a risk assessmnet for diabetes.