A TEENAGER is hoping to spread awareness of the symptoms of type one diabetes after she was diagnosed unexpectedly one year ago.

Lauren Moffatt from Northwich ended up needing a trip to hospital in September 2020 after suffering from symptoms – and was told she was lucky not to have slipped into a coma.

The 16-year-old was diagnosed with type one diabetes and she now wants more people to be aware of the symptoms.

Lauren explained: “Two months before I was diagnosed I was losing a lot of weight.

“We called 111 because I was drinking so much water and then I went to hospital and I was on the verge of going into a coma.

“Symptoms include losing weight really fast and you’re eating loads but it’s not sitting anywhere, going to the toilet a lot and drinking a lot.”

NHS.uk also lists feeling very tired, blurred vision, cuts and grazes that are not healing and fruity-smelling breath as potential symptoms.

Lauren said: “I’m on insulin and I have an insulin pump and I control it from my phone.

“It’s not been too bad, I have had really good support.

“My diabetes nurse has been really good, she has done everything she can, she’s the best.

“The mental health side of having it is hard sometimes.

“I just have to be careful with it.”

Lauren has since used social networking service TikTok to make videos teaching people about diabetes and her treatment.

According to NHS.uk, The most common symptoms of hypoglycaemia (a hypo) are sweating, being anxious or irritable, feeling hungry, difficulty concentrating, blurred sight, trembling and feeling shaky. To treat it, eat or drink something sugary, have an injection of glucagon – if you are already diagnosed – or seek immediate medical attention.

The reverse of a hypo is a hyper - when blood sugar is too high.