Discussion about Type 1 in children on Woman's Hour

[Northerner]

There was a discussion about diabetes in young children on Woman's Hour this morning - you can listen to it here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/programmes/schedules/fm

The discussion starts about 11 minutes in and lasts for about 12 minutes. Quite good explanations of what it all means for the parent and description of how one mother's child was diagnosed, although I did think that the doctor's explanation of the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 left a bit to be desired as it seemed to infer that T1 is something you are only likely to get as a child and Type 2 as an adult - OK, I know that statistically that might be the case but he didn't say that T1 was still a possibility in adults. He also said that T2 wasn't insulin dependent, but maybe the 900,000 T2s on insulin would dispute that!

Libby Dowling of DUK made the point that we need more, not fewer DSNs.

Worth a listen!

 

[katie]

Thanks, I love Audrey Tautou

 

[shiv]

Just a shame they didn't mention JDRF! *cough*

 

[Northerner]

Just a shame they didn't mention JDRF! *cough*

I thought that too!

 

[ruthelliot]

I listened as best I could in the car with 3 excited boys in the back ( big day out before back to school) and while for the most part I thought it was great I was somewhat disheartened to here the doctor while discussing possible causes of type 1 in children mention diet as a contributing factor, and specifically mentioning too much processed food. While he did also go on to say it may be to do with how the individuals gut deals with such food I think any inference that diabetes in children is related to poor diet is really pretty shocking. My own son had never tasted processed food when diagnosed and had the healthiest diet of any child I knew ( better even than his older brothers) and indeed some children are still on breast milk alone when diagnosed. There is enough of a social stigma attached to diabetes at times ( regardless of type) and I can say as a mother one of the most overwhelming emotions I felt in the early days was guilt - while I know nothing I did or didn't do 'gave' Ben diabetes, comments like this do nothing to help keep the guilt at bay. I find it infuriating enough when people harp on about obesity and type 2 as if it MUST be factor in ever case but children have enough to cope with without opening up another avenue for bullies. Perhaps I'm just being a bit oversensitive though I noticed quite a few upset folk on DUK Facebook page also. Might need to go and have a wee glass of chilled wine to calm down ( any excuse!)

 

[Northerner]

No Ruth I agree - I had forgotten to mention that as it annoyed me too. I'm sure the general public wouldn't have listened closely enough to his rather garbled explanation of the possible role of diet and would simply have taken it to be as you say - a parent feding the wrong stuff to their child. This, despite the fact that the mother being interviewed had her daughter diagnosed at 13 months. Without the doctor it would have been a much better piece and it does make you worry when the 'expert' they have sought out for the programme gives out such a confused message.

 

[Hanmillmum]

I listened as best I could in the car with 3 excited boys in the back ( big day out before back to school) and while for the most part I thought it was great I was somewhat disheartened to here the doctor while discussing possible causes of type 1 in children mention diet as a contributing factor, and specifically mentioning too much processed food. While he did also go on to say it may be to do with how the individuals gut deals with such food I think any inference that diabetes in children is related to poor diet is really pretty shocking. My own son had never tasted processed food when diagnosed and had the healthiest diet of any child I knew ( better even than his older brothers) and indeed some children are still on breast milk alone when diagnosed. There is enough of a social stigma attached to diabetes at times ( regardless of type) and I can say as a mother one of the most overwhelming emotions I felt in the early days was guilt - while I know nothing I did or didn't do 'gave' Ben diabetes, comments like this do nothing to help keep the guilt at bay. I find it infuriating enough when people harp on about obesity and type 2 as if it MUST be factor in ever case but children have enough to cope with without opening up another avenue for bullies. Perhaps I'm just being a bit oversensitive though I noticed quite a few upset folk on DUK Facebook page also. Might need to go and have a wee glass of chilled wine to calm down ( any excuse!)

I agree with you Ruth and don't think your being oversensitive, sure most other parents feel the same also, I most certainly do. It worries and upsets me when this kind of thing crops up every now and again

 

[katie]

I've finally listened to the whole thing. It was pretty good for showing how much work parent's of people with diabetes go through.

That diet bit though... 😱

 

[Northerner]

It was strange to introduce the bit about diet anyway - the first time I've heard of such a connection being suggested and how can that possibly apply to someone like me, diagnosed aged 49? 🙄

 

[katie]

It was strange to introduce the bit about diet anyway - the first time I've heard of such a connection being suggested and how can that possibly apply to someone like me, diagnosed aged 49? 🙄

and normally other siblings don't develop Diabetes, even though they were all bought up eating the same things as eachother...

It diet was the cause, I'm sure they would have worked that out by now I think it's a bit crazy they still don't know the trigger.