Mortality risk higher for young adults with type 1 diabetes

A lack of good quality healthcare for young adults with type 1 diabetes means they face a much higher risk of death than their peers.
Diabetes UK has warned that young women and men with type 1 diabetes are nine times more likely and four times more likely to die, respectively, than their peers, and this is at least partly due to the fact that many of them have not received the care the need to manage their diabetes and boost their chances of living a long and healthy life .
The charity’s warning is backed by latest healthcare figures which show that a worrying 85% of children with type 1 diabetes in the UK have poor blood sugar control, putting them at considerably greater risk of developing serious complications later in life.
In addition, only 15% of diabetic kids are achieving the recommended HbA1C levels of under 7.5%, which is less than half the figure (34%) for comparable countries such as Germany and Austria.
In response to these alarming statistics, Diabetes UK has launched a new guide called the ‘Type 1 essentials for children and young people’. The guide sets out the 10 things that every child with the lifelong condition needs, making it a useful resource for parents who want to ensure their child is receiving the right standard of care.
Barbara Young, Diabetes UK chief executive, said: “Our Type 1 essentials for children and young people sets out the care every child with Type 1 diabetes should be getting but, many children do not get this care.
“By publishing our guide to what good care looks like, we hope the NHS will ensure that services are commissioned and organised to give every child with Type 1 diabetes the quality of healthcare they deserve and we want parents and healthcare professionals to understand what good care is so they can play their part in making sure it is delivered.
“Our children with Type 1 diabetes have been let down by poor healthcare for too long. By making sure every child gets 10 out of 10, we can give every child with the condition the best possible chance of a long and healthy life.”