Parents, teachers and health care professionals are becoming increasingly concerned by the increased prevalence of Diabetes amongst children. This has started to have impact in the

Furzedown community.

Two student at Penwortham School have been diagnossed with Type 1 Diabetes. In both cases the children experienced Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), which is potentially fatal.

Type 1 shouldn't be confused with Type 2 as it's a genetic anomaly that causes the immune system to attack the cells in the pancreas that produce the insulin used by the body to control blood glucose

levels. Diabetes is widely misunderstood. Awareness of both symptoms and the implications of the disease is low.

Consequently, Penwortham School has partnered with VisitHealth and Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (JDRF) to screen its pupils for any early signs of Diabetes.

VisitHealth will screened the children of consenting parents, in November, while JDRF were also in attendance to offer support to teachers, parents and children..

The UK has the highest prevalence of Type 1 in the world, and we don't know why. It effects 96 percent of all children diagnosed with Diabetes in the UK. All proceeds from the nominal screening fee of £1 per child were donated to help the charity continue its important work to find a cure.