Type 1 diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, is generally diagnosed in children and young adults. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body doesn't produce enough insulin to convert sugar, starches and other food into needed energy. It's estimated that 5 to 10 percent of people with diabetes suffer from Type 1, which is treated by insulin therapy and other treatments. Young children with type 1 diabetes can learn to manage their condition with proper medical care. If quality medical care isn't available however, that leads to an increased number of emergency hospital admissions.
According to Diabetes UK, 3,300 emergency cases in 2008 and 2009 could have been prevented if better care had been available. The charity investigated further and found that increased emergency room visits directed correlates with specialist care service cuts. "We know from our previous research that specialist diabetes staff report an increase in emergency hospital admissions whenever there are cuts in services," states Douglas Smallwood, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK.
The UK has the fourth highest level of type 1 diabetes in Europe, but the lowest number of diabetics who manage to control their condition. By investing in appropriate care, emergency admissions could be reduced and diabetes advice and self-management support could be increased.
“Children and their parents desperately need better access to paediatric specialist diabetes teams. The number of emergency admissions could be reduced significantly with investment in appropriate care, diabetes advice and practical self-management support," further states Smallwood.
Diabetes treatment and investigatory research is always revealing new diabetes discoveries and diabetes treatment drugs to help control the potentially fatal disease, but access to the newest innovations are extremely important and vital to diabetics. American children, aged 12 to 19, account for 2 million diabetes patients, making the U.S. total 23.6 million or 7.8 percent of the population.
Written by Amy Munday
Huliq.com
