Up to 5 Children and teenagers are diagnosed every week with type 1 diabetes in Ireland, according to Diabetes Ireland.

In 2014, 1 in 6 children diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes were admitted to hospital with a potentially life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) which can occur if a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis is delayed.

The purpose of Diabetes Ireland's Type 1 Diabetes Awareness Campaign is two-fold.

The first is to encourage GPs to consider Type 1 diabetes first, as a potential diagnosis when a child presents feeling generally unwell by performing a simple finger prick glucose test to lead to prompt diagnosis.

A delay in diagnosis usually means repeated visits to the GP and can result in diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) which is potentially fatal.

And secondly, to raise awareness among the general population of Type 1 Diabetes signs and symptoms (The 4T's; Toilet, Thirsty, Tired and Thinner) which can attack completely at random.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when I was 20 years old, I have no family history and my lifestyle was quite healthy. I cycled to college and I ate relatively healthy for a student with no money. *** A healthy lifestyle or not having a family history of diabetes does not protect you from Type 1 Diabetes. Sometimes, there is no rhyme or reason.

The following are just a few of the tragic stories that have made news headlines;

- 2015, Nevada teen
- 2015 Kycie Terry in Utah
- 2013 in North Carolina, 14-month-old Reegan died as a result of her diabetes going undetected.
- July 2012, 26 year old new mother died from undiagnosed type 1 diabetes in the UK
- In 2012, a 17 year old girl in Scotland died from undiagnosed type 1 diabetes.

You might be fooled into thinking that we are protected in Ireland and that these cases only happen in other countries. But, seriously, how can we be different?

If this post has stirred something in you and you want to do something to create more awareness of Type 1 Diabetes, please share this post or share the facebook post from Diabetes Ireland's Facebook page to whatever social media platform you use.

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Just in case you're wondering; what is DKA?

" Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening problem that affects people with diabetes. It occurs when the body cannot use sugar (glucose) as a fuel source because there is no insulin or not enough insulin. Fat is used for fuel instead.

When fat breaks down, waste products called ketones build up in the body." Find out more here and there is more information on Diabetic Ketoacidosis Explained at DiaTribe