Diabetes and Coronation Street
Coronation Street's Summer Spellman, played by Harriet Bibby, found out last year that she has type 1 diabetes. Since then we’ve followed Summer as she has come to terms with her diagnosis and her struggles in managing her condition through her relationship with food and disordered eating, while juggling the added pressure of sitting her exams. We have seen Summer's journey of managing her diabetes with technology, as well as her experience of pregnancy and sadly, baby loss.
Recently we have seen Summer being held against her will, and denied access to her insulin - which results in diabetic ketoacidosis, also known as DKA.
DKA can occur when there is a severe lack of insulin in the body. This means the body can’t use sugar for energy, and starts to use fat instead. When this happens, chemicals called ketones are released. If left unchecked, ketones can build up and make your blood become acidic - it is a serious condition if not treated fast, so it's important to be able to spot the symptoms. Below is more information on DKA and these key symptoms, along with more content relating to the experience of Summer since her initial diagnosis.
Need to talk?
Your feelings about diabetes technology
Your feelings about food and diabetes
Eating disorders and diabetes
Supporting someone with an eating disorder
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