Diabetes UK Cymru launches creative challenge to mark “Children and Type 1 Diabetes Day”
Diabetes UK Cymru has launched a creative challenge, #StrongWithType1 to mark “Children and Type 1 Diabetes Day” on 3 February.
The charity is offering free boxes of craft materials and, fun and inspiring ideas to kids living with type 1 diabetes in Wales.
Dai Williams, National Director, Wales said: “We wanted to celebrate children living with type 1, while raising awareness of the condition by promoting creativity in lockdown, be it writing, painting, drawing, making crafts or anything they like. We are asking them to share their creations with us and hopefully inspire all those budding writers and artists out there.”
Last year, Diabetes UK Cymru designated 3rd February “Children and Type 1 Diabetes Day” and hosted a large event at the Senedd, sponsored by Jayne Bryant, MS, where Elizabeth Evans Hughes medals were issued and new ambassadors were nominated to promote the charity’s “Know Type 1” campaign.
Diabetes UK Cymru has counted on the support of high-profile young Welsh people with type 1 diabetes, such as actors Elinor Crawley and Cerith Flynn and former Wales rugby international player, Amy Evans, as well as the athlete Mel Stephenson-Gray, who recently joined Diabetes UK Board of Trustees.
Poet and rapper, Duke Al Durham wrote a poem to inspire writers and artists with type 1 diabetes called “Type 1 warrior”, celebrating the resilience of kids and young adults with diabetes. Duke said: “I found a way of expressing myself through poetry and using words to talk about my diabetes and mental health, so I find it really exciting to see what children will come up with for this challenge around being strong with type 1.”
This awareness day also marks the connection between Wales and the discovery of insulin, 100 years ago. In August 1922, Elizabeth Evans Hughes, whose grandfather came from Tredegar, became one of the first patients in the world to receive the life-saving treatment of insulin, in Toronto, Canada, at the age of 15.
To participate in the challenge for Children with Type 1 Diabetes go to: https://docs.google.com/forms/
We’d love to see your creations, email us on wales@diabetes.org.uk or tag us on social media or use the hashtag #StrongWithType1
Twitter @DiabetesUKCymru
Facebook @diabetesukcymru
Instagram: @diabetesukcymru
Duke Al Durham
Raising awareness of the 4Ts of Type 1 Diabetes
The aim of the Know type 1 campaign is to make recognition of the 4Ts second nature to people in Wales, so that children are diagnosed sooner and more safely.
Diabetes UK Cymru is asking parents, carers, teachers and members of the public to be aware of the signs, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic has led to diagnoses being missed.
The four most common symptoms of type 1 diabetes also known as the 4Ts 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
If a child has any of the symptoms take them straight to the doctor and insist on a test for type 1 diabetes. All it takes is a quick and simple finger-prick blood test, which a GP can carry out straight away and can diagnose the condition in minutes.
If not quickly identified and treated, type 1 diabetes can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a condition which can be life-threatening.
There are around 1,400 children and young people in Wales living with type 1 diabetes and it’s the most common metabolic disorder in childhood.
