Type 1 Diabetes research

Friday 14th October 2022 my eldest daughter Summer who‘s 10 years old went for what we thought would be a routine doctors appointment. The previous week she had been complaining of ”lack of energy” , ”urinating more often” , ”sore tummy” and I put this down to just another bug or infection that was doing the rounds. As the days went on Summer - who is an upbeat typical full of energy sassy 10 yr old - just was not improving at all and the lack of energy resulted in a change of personality which could only be described as sheer depressed. Upon some blood tests at the doctors surgery Summers health escalated quickly and we were advised in no uncertain terms to get her to Blackpool Victoria hospital as soon as possible after a result of blood sugar levels well over 25.0 (normal between 4 and 7) and ketone level well over 10.0 (normally under 0 - 0.6 max). As we arrived at the hospital Summer was quickly put into the high dependancy unit under 24hour bedside care.

For any parent to see there young child lifeless with tubes and monitors all over her body and hourly blood tests is something we never want to experience in our lives. Summer was now in a threatening state of health as she was in a state of DKA. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a serious complication of diabetes that can be life-threatening. DKA is most common among people with type 1 diabetes. DKA develops when your body doesn't have enough insulin to allow blood sugar into your cells for use as energy. 2 hours previous to this my wife was picking my youngest daughter Mylah up at school and I was sat at my desk in Poolfoot farm preparing a training session for my under 16s Fleetwood Academy that evening and now we are hanging over our daughters bed helpless with no answers to her questions. As a parent and particularly a father that wants to protect there children and have all the answers for there questions and tell them its going to be ok was the toughest few days of my life not only as a parent but as a human being.

Thankfully after 72 hours of 24hour care that sassy funny lively bubbly charasmatic 10yr old personality starting to slowly shine through and Summer‘s condition improved enough to not need the 24hr bedside care.

We were now as a family and none more so than our 10 yr old daughter coming to terms that Summer had been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. By all means life can be “normal” with type 1 diabetes and the technology and research is gathering pace day by day. There’s no known cure for type 1 diabetes right now but scientists are looking at new treatments called immunotherapies, which could help to prevent, stop and cure the condition.

If truth be told I was completely ignorant to not only what diabetes was/is but the difficulties it comes with and the part only people living with or have a diabetic individual living in there household actually deal with day to day.

Carb counting - how many units of insulin should I give to how many carbs my daughter has eaten. The doubts of have I given enough. Why is her blood sugar levels high? Why is she so low after eating all those carbs? Having to waken up at 3am because sugar levels are dangerously low and need immediate treatment! Apple juice , fruit gums and a chocolate digestive biscuit at 3am might be fun for kids but the novelty wears off and my daughter is now just asking why she just can‘t sleep “as normal”.

The education and learning for diabetes is far more than what meets the eye. What to do with a ”hypo”? Injection sites? Did I do that properly? The constant doubt and worry of getting it right will never leave the parent of a diabetic child! Its not a game of football where a mistake may cost a corner kick a free kick or at worse conceding a goal! This is the life of our child and we want to get it right to give her the best chance possible of living with the diagnosis.

With the support of the amazing diabetic team at Blackpool Victoria hospital along with my colleagues at Fleetwood Town FC including my former team mate and now first team manager Scott Brown along with all academy staff and peers have been a great source of comfort. The support unit of our family has been something we not just appreciated but something we needed.

I want to give as much back and more to a cause and search for an illness that doesn’t sleep and doesn’t rest and help fund to find a cure for diabetes. It may not be in my lifetime , Summers lifetime but one day I am sure there will be a breakthrough in the research.

Thank you for taking the time to read the story of my daughter Summer.

Paul