Parents in York are being urged to be aware of symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children as part of National Diabetes Week.

Type 1 diabetes can occur in any child at any age and is not usually a genetic or inherited disorder.

Often symptoms go unrecognised and the disease is only diagnosed when the child becomes critically ill with a potentially life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis.

Symptoms include feeling very thirsty all the time, passing urine very frequently, wetting the bed or unusually wet nappies in toddlers, weight loss, excessive, unexplained tiredness, blurred vision and breathlessness.

Dr Dominic Smith, a consultant paediatric diabetologist in York, said: “Sadly, we are seeing children admitted to hospital in diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. DKA is a life threatening condition, but it is preventable.”

He said if children were showing the symptoms they should be checked out as soon as possible.

A simple finger prick blood test or urine test at the GP surgery or out of hours centre can instantly show if a child is likely to have type 1 diabetes.

“It is very important that the test is not delayed until the following day if parents are suspicious their child has these symptoms. If the test is positive the child needs to be referred straight to hospital.

“The sooner we know, the sooner we can start appropriate treatment.”