A TEENAGER living with Type 1 diabetes has today thanked the dedicated team at Ipswich Hospital’s diabetic clinic as a national charity warns youngsters across the UK need better care.

Bethany Southgate-Ash, 13, from Brantham, has vowed the condition will not rule her life, as mum Ve Pascoe passed on her daughter’s thanks to the team.

It comes as Diabetes UK reveal young adults with Type 1 diabetes are more likely to die because they are not getting the healthcare they need to manage their condition.

Young women with the condition are nine times more likely to die than their peers and young male diabetics are four times more likely to die.

The charity is launching a new guide Type 1 Diabetes for Children and Young People which sets out the top 10 things every child with Type 1 diabetes needs.

But Ms Pascoe said Beth’s treatment is an example of great care.

“Since Beth was diagnosed just over two years ago our lead pediatric diabetic nurse Claire Wadham has been brilliant,” she told The Star.

“She is always at the end of the phone to help with any queries we have and works extremely well with Beth to ensure that her treatment is carried out with her and not just done to her.

“She found the injections very difficult and quite painful and discovered life doesn’t fit neatly into four injections a day.”

In October, Beth was fitted with an insulin pump and has seen life greatly improve. “I feel free, I feel normal,” Beth said.

Her experiences have shown how services for young people living with diabetes have improved in recent years. Her elder brother, now 21, was diagnosed when he was five.

Ms Pascoe added: “The care provided has definitely come on since my son was diagnosed. Young people are more involved in their care and campaigns like this really help to improve awareness and understanding.”

Barbara Young, the charity’s chief executive, said: “Our Type 1 essentials for children and young people sets out the care every child with Type 1 diabetes should be getting but, many children do not get this care.

“There is no good reason why we should be lagging so far behind countries such as Germany in terms of management of the condition but the stark truth is that the UK fails to deliver good quality healthcare for children with Type 1 diabetes. Every child needs to get the 10 things that can make a real difference.

“Our children with Type 1 diabetes have been let down by poor healthcare for too long. By making sure every child gets 10 out of 10, we can give every child with the condition the best possible chance of a long and healthy life.”

Visit www.diabetes.org.uk/type-1-essentials