Abstract During the Covid-19 pandemic, almost all of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s outpatient appointments became virtual rather than
This is a serious condition, but it can be managed effectively with the right treatment. However, timely diagnosis is essential and, if left untreated, symptoms can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a potentially life-threatening condition that requires hospital treatment. New data published by the UK Association of Children’s Diabetes Clinicians shows that between March and June 2020, 51 per cent of children and young people were only diagnosed once they had developed DKA. In the 88 diabetes units in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that competed the survey, 20 per cent of type 1 diagnoses were delayed, with ‘fear of Covid-19’ (40 per cent), GP access (22 per cent) and misdiagnosis or symptoms not being recognised (17 per cent) among the reasons cited.