25 April 2013

Diabetic dad inspires daughter to help future generations


A NURSERY worker who found her dad propped up on the garage floor after experiencing dangerously low blood sugar levels is calling on anyone whose relatives suffer from type 1 diabetes to help prevent the disease.

Gemma Morton (21) of Wincobank decided to take part in a new diabetes study at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals after witnessing her dad endure hypoglycaemia, where blood sugar levels can drop extremely low.

The study – which involves relatives of people with type I diabetes having a blood test and providing some family history – could protect future generations from the disease years before symptoms appear by letting them know if they are at risk because of a family link.

According to Diabetes UK, 3 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes, and an estimated 850,000 people have the condition but don’t know. About one in 10 of these people have type 1 diabetes, which can develop at any age, but usually affects people before the age of 40 and most commonly during childhood.

Gemma said: “Diabetes can be pretty scary, and it’s only through my own knowledge of my dad’s condition that I’ve been able to pull him through some life-threatening situations. Once I found him propped up on the garage floor because of low sugars in the blood. Another time we were walking back to our hotel in Spain and he had absolutely no recollection of who I was. It was frightening. But there’s usually his ‘giveaways’ signs when he’s experiencing an episode – he gets hot and sweaty and starts chewing his lips so I know that I need to act fast.”

Each time Ian, who was first diagnosed with the disease when he was 22 and recently celebrated his 53rd birthday, quickly recovered after his daughter’s intervention.

“I gave him some Lucozade and some digestive biscuits, and he was back on his feet within no time,” Gemma added. “It was actually my dad’s idea for me to take part in the study. He brought a leaflet home from the hospital and said: ‘Look you can do this for me’.

“Taking part in clinical research is not something I’ve ever done before, but it’s really gratifying to know I’ve done something to help doctors find out more about links between type 1 diabetes and family genes.”

Professor Simon Heller, honorary consultant physician at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Type 1 diabetes is a potentially serious disease, which can be life-threatening if left untreated. Patients learn to manage the condition themselves but this involves a huge amount of effort throughout their lives and continued support from their families. This study will help answer some vital questions about the role genes play in the development of the disease, which could be of benefit to future generations. It may also lead to the development of therapy which prevents the onset of Type 1 diabetes.”

The South Yorkshire TrialNet study is being run at Sheffield’s Northern General Hospital. It is part of an international research programme originating from the United States, and is a partnership between Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, South East Midlands Diabetes Research Network and the South Yorkshire Comprehensive Local Research Network. The research has been supported by the National Institute for Health Research Sheffield Clinical Research Facility.

To find out more contact 0114 305 2024 or email sht-tr.TrialNet@nhs.net.

Type 1 diabetes develops when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. As a result the body is unable to produce insulin and this leads to increased blood glucose levels, which in turn can cause serious damage to all organ systems in the body.

ENDS
 



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