THE MOTHER of a teen who was diagnosed with type one diabetes during lockdown is raising money for a charity close to her heart.
Sophie Abbis from Rugby suddenly became very unwell in May, feeling lethargic and napping during the day. The 13-year-old lost her appetite and was very thirsty but due to it being so hot some of the telltale signs were missed.
Mum Clare, age 42, said: “We knew it was going to be difficult seeing a doctor but she was quite weak at bedtime, so we decided we would try first thing in the morning. But by 2am she had gone downhill rapidly and 111 sent an ambulance. When they checked her glucose levels, they were found to be very high so they rushed her to hospital.
“They worked very hard in A&E to bring her levels down and then she was transferred to a high dependency unit.
“Because of Covid-19 it was just us two for a few days, but we were trained up and, by the time we left hospital, Sophie could check her own blood levels and inject insulin herself.”
Type one diabetes affected eight per cent of those with diabetes and is treated with daily insulin injections.
People with the illness cannot produce insulin. It is not known what causes the illness but it is not to do with being overweight and is not currently preventable.
But eight weeks after her diagnosis Sophie is feeling much better, on a new diet and even back training again with her team Rugby Town Football Club,
And following her daughter’s diagnosis Clare has signed up to charity Diabetes UK’s One Million Step Challenge to help fund research.
It sees supporters take one million steps between July and September and get sponsored for every stride.
Diabetes UK regional spokesman Peter Shorrick said: “We’re really grateful to Clare for supporting our work to fund ground-breaking research, care services and campaigns that change the lives of those living with diabetes. And during these really challenging times the support of fundraisers like Clare is more vital than ever before.
Visit step.diabetes.org.uk/pages/clare-36 to sponsor Clare.
