World Diabetes Day

This Assembly notes that 14 November is World Diabetes Day and the launch of Diabetes UK’s campaign on issues faced by children and young people with diabetes. This Assembly supports the aim of the campaign to highlight the signs and symptoms of Type 1 diabetes in order to ensure more children are diagnosed before they become seriously ill.

The Assembly welcomes the priority placed by the shadow London Health Improvement Board (LHIB) on tackling childhood obesity. This should contribute to a reduction in the number of Londoners developing Type 2 diabetes and other obesity related, long-term conditions in later life. This Assembly therefore urges the Mayor, in his capacity as Chair of the shadow LHIB, to prioritise diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes in children and young people as well as the prevention of Type 2.

The Assembly calls upon the Mayor to work with the shadow LHIB and London Councils to ensure the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes are promoted more widely among parents, schools, and healthcare professionals to ensure that children developing this condition do not become critically ill with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) prior to diagnosis, putting their long-term health and their lives at risk.