Hundreds of babies and young children are becoming seriously ill before their type 1 diabetes is diagnosed, the latest data shows.
New data from the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit shows that 902 children aged 15 and under in England and Wales were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes while in a life-threatening complication called diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA for short, between April 2024 and March 2025.
The latest figures show that 28% of children were in DKA at the point of diagnosis in 2024-25, up from 20% in 2017-18. Rates are highest among the youngest children, with one in three children under five diagnosed while already in DKA.
DKA is caused by a severe lack of insulin and can lead to you becoming seriously ill very quickly. And for some people including children, DKA may have developed before diabetes is diagnosed, especially if it’s type 1 diabetes.
These figures highlight a worrying reality: too many children are still reaching crisis point before type 1 diabetes is recognised. Yet in many cases, a simple finger-prick blood glucose test could identify the condition sooner and help prevent a medical emergency.
The signs of type 1 diabetes
That’s why, this World Diabetes Day on 14 November, we're raising awareness of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes, encouraging everyone to ‘share the signs – and save a life’.
The 4Ts are:
- Toilet: going for a wee more often, heavier nappies in babies, or new bedwetting.
- Thirsty: being unusually thirsty or feeding more in babies.
- Tired: feeling unusually tired, sleeping more than usual, or changes in behaviour such as irritability.
- Thinner: unexplained weight loss or looking thinner than usual.
In babies and younger children, these symptoms can be harder to spot because they can often present alongside other common childhood illnesses. This can mean type 1 diabetes goes undetected until a child becomes critically unwell.
That's why we are calling on both parents and healthcare professionals to ‘think type 1 diabetes’ if a child presents with any one of the 4Ts symptoms and to arrange an urgent test.
Identifying type 1 diabetes early is vital
The consequences of a delayed diagnosis can be devastating.
Two-year-old Lyla Story, from Hull, died in her sleep from DKA in May 2025. In the days before her death, Lyla had experienced several of the 4Ts symptoms, including extreme tiredness, increased thirst and more wet nappies, but her type 1 diabetes was not diagnosed.
Her father, John Story, is now supporting efforts to raise awareness of the warning signs so that other families do not experience the same tragedy.
On Monday 9 March 2026, a debate in Westminster on Lyla’s Law shone a powerful light on the need for earlier diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children. More than 120,000 people signed the petition set up in Lyla’s memory, which Lyla’s parents handed in to Downing Street. The petition called for increased use of finger-prick tests in healthcare settings whenever someone presents with the 4Ts.
Colette Marshall, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said:
"A type 1 diabetes diagnosis should never start with a medical emergency. Yet every year, hundreds of UK families face the heartbreaking reality of seeing their children reach crisis point before anyone recognises the condition.
"For almost a decade, we have seen no improvement in these figures – and that has to change, starting now.
"This World Diabetes Day, we're urging everyone to learn the 4Ts and share the signs with others. If a child shows any one of these symptoms, particularly if it seems unusual for them, the message is simple: think type 1 diabetes. A simple test could make all the difference - and it could even save a life."
What should you do if you spot the signs?
Type 1 diabetes can affect anyone, at any age. Symptoms can develop quickly, over days or weeks, and early diagnosis is critical.
If you notice any of the 4Ts in your child, contact your GP immediately and ask for a test for type 1 diabetes. If your GP surgery is closed, call 111 for advice. If symptoms are getting worse, go straight to A&E.
This World Diabetes Day, we're asking everyone to share the signs of type 1 diabetes. Learning the 4Ts could help prevent a medical emergency and save a life
