About type 1 diabetes

We’ve done the research for you.

Type 1 diabetes in children and young people is on the rise.

Managaing your diabetes through carb counting is a great way of managing your blood sugar or glucose levels which will ultimately lead to better HbA1c levels and a better quality of life.

With Carb Counting, the flexibility of meals and snacks allows children and teenagers to manage their T1D more effectively within their own lifestyles.

NICE guidance recommends maintaining an HbA1c of 48 mmol/mol or lower.

Type 1 in young people

Type 1 diabetes constitutes the vast majority (90%) of diabetes in children and young adults).

Number of young people with type 1 in the UK

In 2022, there were an estimated 42,000 young people (0-20) in the UK with diabetes, up from 31,500 in 2015.

Type 1 across the world

There are 652,000 children worldwide with type 1 diabetes and 1.52 million young people.

On the rise

The number of new diagnoses of type 1 is increasing by about 4% each year. In children under five, that figure is 5%.

Number of children with diabetes across the world

1. India (229,000)
2. USA, (157,000)
3. Brazil (92,000)
4. China (56,000)
9. United Kingdom (31,000)

The importance of good control

Good control of blood sugar reduces the long-term risks which include eye and kidney disease, heart disease and stroke.

What is Type 1 Diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is where the body is unable to produce any insulin. The prevalence of Type 1 diabetes is not associated with deprivation.

HbA1c

Long term blood sugar control can be measured using the HbA1c blood test which identifies average plasma glucose concentration over the past three months.

What is DKA?

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a potentially life-threatening condition requiring emergency admission to hospital. It occurs when plasma blood sugar levels rise rapidly. DKA occurs almost exclusively in type 1 diabetes.