Discover Series: Diabetes
What would you discover to help a child? At The Kids, our researchers are committed to Type 1 Diabetes research that makes a real difference.
Around 1000 West Australian children live with Type 1 Diabetes. It's a 24 hour a day, seven day a week disease.
Those with Type 1 Diabetes closely monitor their blood glucose levels throughout the day and night and rely on insulin injections to stay alive. They also need to constantly consider what they eat, exercise levels, medication they are taking and other lifestyle factors like stress and illness to ensure their blood glucose doesn't go too low and they go into a coma.
Type 1 Diabetes is not a lifestyle disease, it's not caused by poor nutrition or lack of exercise. Instead, the pancreas, a small gland behind the stomach, stops making insulin and without insulin, the body's cells cannot turn glucose (sugar) into energy.
Our Diabetes Research Team runs a uniquely holistic research program incorporating state-of-the-art technologies, therapies and education that are all aimed at improving the quality of life for young people with Type 1 Diabetes.
Find out more about diabetes researchDiabetes paediatrician Dr Liz Davis says a diagnosis of diabetes changes a child's life forever.
She wants to find out how research can help reduce the burden of diabetes and take away some of the stress of living with the disease.
For 15 year old Kirsten, her biggest fear is going to sleep at night and not waking up in the morning.
She hopes for a cure for the invisible disease that is diabetes.