Awareness

[Helen Farrow]

My 27 year old son has recently passed away from ketoacidosis. He was an undiagnosed diabetic and came down with the flu. We all thought my son just had the flu including him and that was what we were treating, little did we know all this was happening in his body. My son was very healthy and shown no signs of having diabetes. As you can imagine we are all totally devasted and heartbroken. I am not familiar will diabetic signs and neither was my son. I feel if we were made more aware of this as they do for cancer and strokes - all have adverts on TV, creating awReness of signs before it is too late. I know more about diabetes since the death of my son but all from my own research. It is also clear that there is a huge number of people getting on with the day to day activities who have undiagnosed diabetes, it is these people like my son I feel need awareness of this condition. If there was a TV advert with signs to look for and actions to take it may save more lives. Unfortunately this is too late for my son but I strongly feel something needs to be done to let people know who are not diagnosed,

 

[grainger]

My 27 year old son has recently passed away from ketoacidosis. He was an undiagnosed diabetic and came down with the flu. We all thought my son just had the flu including him and that was what we were treating, little did we know all this was happening in his body. My son was very healthy and shown no signs of having diabetes. As you can imagine we are all totally devasted and heartbroken. I am not familiar will diabetic signs and neither was my son. I feel if we were made more aware of this as they do for cancer and strokes - all have adverts on TV, creating awReness of signs before it is too late. I know more about diabetes since the death of my son but all from my own research. It is also clear that there is a huge number of people getting on with the day to day activities who have undiagnosed diabetes, it is these people like my son I feel need awareness of this condition. If there was a TV advert with signs to look for and actions to take it may save more lives. Unfortunately this is too late for my son but I strongly feel something needs to be done to let people know who are not diagnosed,

I just wanted to say I’m so sorry for your loss. X

 

[HOBIE]

Hello Helen. I am very sorry to here about your poor son. You are very true that an awful lot of people don't know about T1 & T2 diabetes. Well done you for sharing your experience. Once again very sorry to here X

 

[Brando77]

Sorry for your loss.
I had the dreaded flu the whole of January....had a check up after and turned out I had Type2. Reading this has hit home.

 

[Lanny]

I am so sorry for your loss. It’s so brave of you to post about it.

I was very lucky to be diagnosed early 17 years ago at the age of 29. That Autumn Winter season I kept getting a cold every few weeks. My GP, at the time, said it was because I met a lot of people in my job in the restaurant business. Shortly after in the Spring I moved back to my hometown & had to re register with the GP that’s known me since childhood. My diabetes was picked up by the routine blood & urine tests for new registering patients. I was started on medication straight away. I had no clue!

With all my heartfelt sorrow for your loss,

Lanny

 

[HOBIE]

It is strange how people get diagnosed & why. I think how my Mother sorted me out in 1966 aged 3.

 

[Amigo]

My 27 year old son has recently passed away from ketoacidosis. He was an undiagnosed diabetic and came down with the flu. We all thought my son just had the flu including him and that was what we were treating, little did we know all this was happening in his body. My son was very healthy and shown no signs of having diabetes. As you can imagine we are all totally devasted and heartbroken. I am not familiar will diabetic signs and neither was my son. I feel if we were made more aware of this as they do for cancer and strokes - all have adverts on TV, creating awReness of signs before it is too late. I know more about diabetes since the death of my son but all from my own research. It is also clear that there is a huge number of people getting on with the day to day activities who have undiagnosed diabetes, it is these people like my son I feel need awareness of this condition. If there was a TV advert with signs to look for and actions to take it may save more lives. Unfortunately this is too late for my son but I strongly feel something needs to be done to let people know who are not diagnosed,

I’m heartfelt sorry to hear of your loss Helen and the awareness points you make are so true. Most people would have just assumed a bad case of flu too.
This is a campaigning issue that I hope organisations like DUK can take up.

Best wishes to you and your family at this devastating time. You did all you could with the information you had available to you x

 

[Matt Cycle]

So sorry to hear of your loss Helen. Although Type 1 diabetes is fairly rare but possibly because of that these tragedies concerning undiagnosed or misdiagnosed Type 1 resulting in diabetic ketoacidosis do crop up and due to the nature of the condition sadly often involve children and young adults.

I agree with Amigo that DUK could take this up not just for the general public but also raising awareness amongst GP's and other health care professionals.

 

[stephknits]

I remember DUK doing the 4 Ts campaign for recognising the signs and symptoms - I had some leaflets etc from them to give out. I presume this is still ongoing and the resources are available.

 

[Helen Farrow]

Thanks Steph. Yes they are still campaigning but I felt that was aimed at younger children rather than young adults. My son was 27 and we didn’t see any signs. I’m just wanting something that we could support, so my son didn’t just die, he created awareness with us and I feel I need to share it to try and prevent this happening to others.

 

[Ljc]

I am so very sorry for your loss.
Many would assume it was a bad bout if flu, some memnpbers here have.
I agree with you, it’s important to make people aware of the symptoms, I include the GP’s in this.
I’ll tag @Hannah DUK.

 

[Amigo]

Thanks Steph. Yes they are still campaigning but I felt that was aimed at younger children rather than young adults. My son was 27 and we didn’t see any signs. I’m just wanting something that we could support, so my son didn’t just die, he created awareness with us and I feel I need to share it to try and prevent this happening to others.

Have you tried to get any Press interest Helen?

 

[Helen Farrow]

Have you tried to get any Press interest Helen?

I haven’t as of yet but I feel that needs to be my next move.

 

[Robin]

Thanks Steph. Yes they are still campaigning but I felt that was aimed at younger children rather than young adults. My son was 27 and we didn’t see any signs. I’m just wanting something that we could support, so my son didn’t just die, he created awareness with us and I feel I need to share it to try and prevent this happening to others.

I think it's very much the case that many people, including some GPs, don't realise that you can develop Type 1 at any age. ( I was 51 and my GP thought it must be Type 2)

 

[Bloden]

So sorry for your loss, Helen.

 

[Vince_UK]

Helen, my sincerest condolences for your loss.
Being a Parent myself, I can appreciate your tragedy and I admire your courage immensely for posting on here and sharing your experience.
Mine and I know other members thoughts are with you.

 

[Mark Parrott]

Such a sad story & I'm so sorry for your loss. My condolences to you & your family.

 

[Barb]

So sorry to hear about your son. It is incredibly sad that a routine and simple test could have saved his life.

Just over 40 years ago, I saw my doctor with the same symptoms and was told I had a flu bug. I was flat-sharing with students who checked on me in the night and found me in a hyperglycaemic coma. I was admitted to hospital in time. It horrifies me that misdiagnosis is still happening all these years later. Sending condolences and support.

 

[Davein]

My 27 year old son has recently passed away from ketoacidosis. He was an undiagnosed diabetic and came down with the flu. We all thought my son just had the flu including him and that was what we were treating, little did we know all this was happening in his body. My son was very healthy and shown no signs of having diabetes. As you can imagine we are all totally devasted and heartbroken. I am not familiar will diabetic signs and neither was my son. I feel if we were made more aware of this as they do for cancer and strokes - all have adverts on TV, creating awReness of signs before it is too late. I know more about diabetes since the death of my son but all from my own research. It is also clear that there is a huge number of people getting on with the day to day activities who have undiagnosed diabetes, it is these people like my son I feel need awareness of this condition. If there was a TV advert with signs to look for and actions to take it may save more lives. Unfortunately this is too late for my son but I strongly feel something needs to be done to let people know who are not diagnosed,

Once again life has given us a poignant reminder of how cruel and devastating this illness can be. Perhaps more so for the members of this forum who know so well the effects and subsequent consequences of Diabetes. My heartfelt condolences for your loss which no parent should experience.
May I suggest that, when you feel able, contact your regional BBC news program either tv or radio. Our local BBC new program broadcasts items about Diabetes or other illnesses on a regular basis. It would also be good to get a DUK spokesperson to highlight what a cruel illness Diabetes is. I have also found it very effective to write to politicians (we have a prime minister with Type 1) I quite often contact MPs or members of the House of Lords and do receive encouraging replies whatever my cause.Remember Melissa Mead who took her campaign for sepsis awareness to healthminister Jeremy Hunt after her baby died from sepsis and the results of that?
On a personal note, my 33 year old son has suffered two DKA (diabetic Ketoacidosis) events in the past year, fortunately we were very aware of the seriousness of these, as were the emergency services and he was treated in the intensive care unit at the local hospital within a short period after diagnosis. We were 'fortunate' as my son was diagnosed a T1 many years prior and we do not hesitate to contact the emergency services at the first signs of a problem.
My thoughts are with you Helen. Take care Dave

 

[Diabetes UK]

So terribly sorry to hear of your loss Helen, and my deepest condolences to you and your family.
I will get in touch regarding details of any way we are able to support you in this difficult time, in raising awareness of the symptoms.