Chris Davies MP has pushed the Secretary of State for Health to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes following a meeting with his constituents Lisa and Ben Cass.

Mrs Cass approached Chris after her son Ben was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, following an attack of ketoacidosis, after a visit to his local GP.

Ketoacidosis can be fatal, as was recently seen in Cardiff, though thankfully Ben is now doing well and managing his condition. Mrs Cass raised the need for heightened awareness of the condition at a meeting with Chris at her home last week.

Questioning the Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, Chris said “Ben’s case shows the need for awareness of type 1 diabetes to be improved right across the country. Will my Right Honourable Friend meet me and my constituent to see what more we can do to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes and its symptoms among health professionals and the wider public?”

In response, Mr Hunt said “Of course I am happy meet my Hon Friend and his constituents. A close friend of mine who wanted to take a place in this House ended up dying tragically early because he had type 1 diabetes and was not able to get the care that he needed, so I am very aware of those issues.”

Chris said “I am very pleased that the Secretary of State wants to meet with me and Mrs Cass to discuss what more can be done to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes. Awareness of type 1 diabetes in the UK as a whole is too low and there are too many cases, like Ben’s, of diagnosis being missed and I want to see that change.

It is great that Ben is now doing well and managing his condition and I look forward to bringing Mrs Cass to Westminster in order that she can share her story with the Secretary of State.”

Diabetes is a condition where the amount of glucose in your blood is too high because the body cannot use it properly. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that develops when the insulin-producing cells in the body have been destroyed and the body is unable to produce any insulin.

There are four main symptoms of type 1 diabetes. They are:

Toilet: going to the toilet a lot, bed wetting by a previously dry child or heavier nappies in babies.

Thirsty: Being really thirsty and not being able to quench the thirst.

Tired: feeling more tired than usual.

Thinner: losing weight or looking thinner than usual.

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a potentially life-threatening complication of diabetes caused by a lack of insulin in the body.

It occurs when the body is unable to use blood sugar (glucose) because there isn’t enough insulin. Instead, it breaks down fat as an alternative source of fuel. This causes a build-up of a potentially harmful by-product called ketones.

There are approximately 1,500 children with type 1 diabetes in the UK.

In Powys, approximately 7.1 per cent of the local population is living with diabetes.

Each year approximately 100-150 children are newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.