PARENTS should look for the warning signs of diabetes before their children develop serious complications, a family has warned.

In August, one-year-old Zach Rees was admitted to Poole Hospital’s high dependency unit suffering from life-threatening diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) after his parents Carly and Ryan took him to their GP with a suspected chest infection.

Consultant paediatrician Antoinette McAulay said around a third of children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the hospital have already developed DKA when brought in.

Zach began to lose weight, and to drink and pass urine far more than usual.

Unaware their son was showing typical symptoms of type 1 diabetes, his parents took a urine sample to their GP, who referred the toddler to the children's diabetes service the same day.

"The sugar levels were really high," said Carly. "The GP even asked if there was any way the pot could have had sugar in it already.

"That's when the alarm bells started ringing for us - diabetes was one of the thoughts in the back of my mind but as a mum you wonder if you're just overreacting."

DKA develops when fat tissue breaks down because the body cannot obtain energy from glucose due to a lack of insulin. The condition is potentially fatal and requires urgent medical care.

"Knowing what we know now, I would urge anyone concerned to go straight to their GP," added Carly. The family live in Bournemouth.

"We were told when Zach was admitted to hospital if we had waited any longer it could have been a lot worse.

"His diabetes is being managed now and he's a lot brighter and getting back to his old self."

Dr McAulay is urging parents to visit their GP immediately if they see any of the common symptoms of diabetes, including extreme thirst, frequent visits to the toilet, reduced energy levels and weight loss, in their child.

Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment for type 1 diabetes is vital and prevents DKA developing.

"Parents concerned that their child may have diabetes should go to their GP, where a simple urine or immediate finger prick blood test can show whether diabetes is present or not," said Dr McAulay.

"DKA is a life-threatening complication of type 1 diabetes but it is avoidable – I hope that by raising awareness of the condition and its symptoms, and Zach’s story, we can help prevent more children from falling seriously ill."

For more information visit www.diabetes.org.uk.