We read with interest the article in today’s Telegraph regarding children as young as seven being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes because of unhealthy lifestyles.
Focusing totally on type 2 and its specific issues, the report also states that hundreds of children are being diagnosed every year with the number expected to rise. It refers to a NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) panel report and guidance aimed at doctors, nurses and others to increase screening for type 2.
The report can be read here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9392114/7-year-olds-diagnosed-with-T2-diabetes.html. It makes for interesting reading, but we wish that more had been made of the opportunity to educate readers with regard to type 1 diabetes and the differences to type 2.
Unlike type 2, type 1 is a serious autoimmune condition which cannot be prevented, nor can it be controlled with medication, exercise and diet.
People with type 1 rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day just to stay alive. The number of people being diagnosed is increasing by 4% per year – about 2,000 of them being children.
Only research will find the cure and JDRF exists to fund that research.
We will be contacting the reporter to highlight the differences between type 1 and type 2, including the higher incidence of diagnosis in children.