Type 1 Diabetes: Infant Testing Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department of Health and Social Care
Anna Gelderd
Main Page: Anna Gelderd (Labour - South East Cornwall)Department Debates - View all Anna Gelderd's debates with the Department of Health and Social Care
(1 day, 7 hours ago)
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Irene Campbell
I thank my hon. Friend for making that important point. Yes, I agree.
The survey also found that 73% of GPs report that patient safety is being compromised by their workload pressures, and 58% said that they do not have enough time during appointments to adequately assess and treat patients. It is concerning to hear that a high number of GPs do not have time for professional development and quality development. While the number of patients GPs are expected to see rises, the pressure is higher and patient satisfaction is poorer.
Another important point to note is that the NICE guidelines are from 2015. They could be reviewed to recommend that type 1 diabetes be tested for much earlier, and that an infant need not have all the listed symptoms in the guidelines before testing, as the four Ts on their own are not very sensitive at picking up type 1 diabetes. NICE guidelines could prioritise earlier testing of glucose, making checks immediate and not postponed.
Anna Gelderd (South East Cornwall) (Lab)
In South East Cornwall, 177 residents signed the petition. Does my hon. Friend agree that when the first warning signs appear, we must ensure access to simple tests, including a finger-prick test, that can save their lives? I want to recognise a local family: Alison and Mylor have travelled here today to make the case directly. On behalf of all residents in South East Cornwall, I thank my hon. Friend for making this incredibly important debate happen.
Irene Campbell
I agree with what my hon. Friend says. As I say, I am looking forward to hearing the Minister’s response on how we can make progress.
As we have heard, DKA is a life-threatening complication of diabetes, which is caused by extreme insulin deficiency. We urgently need to change and reduce the rates of DKA. One issue is that it is difficult to know exactly how many children have been missed, discharged and reassured after presenting with these symptoms who will then return for later diagnosis.
As well as young children, adolescents have high rates of presenting with DKA, which can be compounded by factors such as deprivation and ethnicity. That must also be taken into consideration.