HAVING a child diagnosed with Type One diabetes can be a frightening and bewildering experience and one that securing the right treatment only goes part of the way to addressing. But other parents in the same situation can provide a valuable source of advice and support, and an event in Cardiff next weekend aims to put people in touch.

HAVING a child diagnosed with type-one diabetes can be a frightening and bewildering experience.

And securing the right treatment only goes part of the way to addressing the issue.

But other parents in the same situation can provide a valuable source of advice and support �— and an event in Cardiff next weekend is aiming to put people in touch.

An estimated 1,300 children in Wales are living with type-one diabetes, a lifelong condition for which there is no cure.

People with type-one diabetes are unable to produce insulin, which is vital in enabling the body to process glucose for energy.

The condition usually affects children or young adults and its onset can be sudden, with symptoms worsening quickly.

Exactly what causes it is not known �— but it is not to do with being overweight.

Around one in ten people who have diabetes have type one. The remainder have type two.

With the latter, the body does not produce enough insulin �— or the insulin it produces does not work properly. Family history, age and ethnic background are factors that can put people at increased risk of developing type-two diabetes, as can being overweight or obese.

When diabetes hits the headlines, it is often in relation to stories linked with obesity and unhealthy lifestyles. So the diabetes being referred to is type two which develops gradually and tends to be most common among people over 40, though cases among people in their 20s and 30s are becoming more prevalent.

But for children with type-one diabetes, and their families, coping with the consequences can be extremely stressful.

Treatment is through daily insulin doses, taken either by injection or through an insulin pump. The latter delivers a regulated dose, thus avoiding a several-times-daily encounter with a needle that can be traumatic for the young person with diabetes and for the parent or carer administering it. However, the pumps are not available to everyone.

A healthy diet and regular physical activity are key too. But keeping an eye on all of these things amid the usual demands of a family and working life can be worrying and tiring.

The charity Diabetes UK Cymru �— the Wales arm of Diabetes UK, which seeks to care for, and campaign on behalf of, all people affected by and at risk of the disease �— will be holding a free event in Cardiff next Saturday, September 20, for families who have a child with type-one diabetes.

The event aims to give children and their parents information and advice, and a chance to get to know other families who have been affected by the condition. It will be held at the Sports Wales National Centre in Sophia Gardens and will be open to families with children aged four to 17. The full programme for parents and guardians includes an opportunity to hear from diabetes experts and find out more about the support available for families.

Children aged 11 to 17 can spend time with members of Diabetes UK Cymru’s Young People’s Programme. This comprises people aged 18 to 30 who live with type-one diabetes and understand the challenges. These young people will deliver workshops and offer practical advice on self-managing the condition.

The programme for children aged ten and under includes fun activities and the opportunity to spend time with other youngsters living with the condition.

Victoria Allcock and husband Lewis, from Newport, attended last year’s family event in Swansea after their four-year-old daughter Olivia was diagnosed with type-one diabetes.

Olivia fell ill very quickly, aged two years and eight months, and a blood-sugar test found she had diabetic ketoacidosis. This is a life-threatening condition in which damaging chemicals �— ketones �— build up due to the body beginning to break down its own tissue as it is unable to process glucose for energy.

She required a spell in high-dependency care in hospital. Afterwards, her parents had to learn to manage her treatment and diet, and spot the warning signs and symptoms of a potential problem.

Mrs Allcock said: “We attended the family day because it was not long after Olivia’s diagnosis and we needed to talk to other parents in the same position as us, as we were really struggling to come to terms with our daughter’s diagnosis.

“I would highly recommend this event to parents of children with type-one diabetes, to find out about advances in treatment and for opportunities to meet other families.”

Dai Williams, Diabetes UK Cymru’s national director, said that speaking to other families facing the same challenges can be a “lifeline”.

He said: “The event gives parents and children the opportunity to gain the skills, confidence and knowledge to live with and manage diabetes.”

The event will run from 9.30am to 4pm. Admission will be free and a buffet lunch will be provided. Registration packs and more information are available by emailing wales@diabetes.org.uk or calling 029 2066 8276.

l Noticeable and common symptoms of type-one diabetes include excessive thirst, unusual levels of urinating, persistent tiredness and unexplained weight loss.

If these are accompanied by serious loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, high temperature, and stomach pains �— and often a sweet, fruity, chemical smell on the breath �— the problem could be potentially life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis, requiring immediate treatment.

It is estimated that one in four people diagnosed with type-one diabetes are already suffering from diabetic ketoacidosis.

See diabetes.org for more details.