Key Summary
- A nationwide campaign seeks to mandate Type 1 diabetes testing in infants whenever potential symptoms appear.
- MP Iqbal Mohamed calls for pharmacies to lead a national "4Ts" (Toilet, Thirsty, Tired, Thinner) awareness rollout.
- Sarah Bool MP will introduce a 10-Minute Rule Bill on April 14 to provide for universal national screening.
Independent MP Iqbal Mohamed has called for a public awareness campaign around type 1 diabetes symptoms to be rolled out nationwide, including in pharmacies.
The MP said it is estimated by Diabetes UK that around “35,000 young people and children have diabetes”, with around 96 percent of those having type 1 diabetes.
At a parliamentary debate about infant testing for type 1 diabetes on March 9, he urged the government to introduce a national public awareness campaign “explaining the four Ts across TV, radio, social media, schools, nurseries, surgeries, pharmacies and health visitor packs”.
The “four Ts” refer to four common signs of type 1 diabetes: toilet, thirsty, tired and thinner.
Sarah Bool, MP for South Northamptonshire, announced that she will introduce a Ten-Minute Rule Bill in Parliament on April 14. Bool, who lives with Type 1 diabetes herself, made the announcement during a parliamentary debate on March 9.
More than 25 MPs attended the debate, with many sharing their own personal experience of Type 1 diabetes or referencing the heartfelt stories of their constituents.
John and Emma Story’s daughter Lyla died in May 2025 with the condition. Just 24 hours before her death, Lyla was misdiagnosed with acute tonsillitis - but an inquest in September found that Lyla had died from undiagnosed type 1 diabetes.
John and Emma Story’s petition, asks for funding so that “all infants are offered type 1 diabetes testing in routine care”. The campaign wants NICE guidelines to “ensure that type 1 diabetes testing is carried out when any symptoms appear” and that information on type 1 diabetes is included “in the red book for babies”.
It delivered a 125,000-signature to Downing Street on Monday (9), which triggered the debate by MPs in Parliament, according to BBC.
It also asks the government for public awareness campaigns, to “help parents to recognise the signs of type 1 diabetes” for “increased accountability in primary care” and the promotion of a “test, don’t guess framework to guarantee timely access to care”.
Public health and prevention minister Sharon Hodgson responded on behalf of the government, thanking Lyla’s parents for their passionate and powerful campaigning and saying “no child or their family should be let down in this way”.
Health secretary, Wes Streeting, has met with the parents of Lyla Story. Streeting has said work is ongoing to ensure "Lyla’s lasting legacy is one that saves lives."
He added that “the courage and determination shown” by Lyla’s parents “in relentlessly campaigning to prevent other families from experiencing similar tragedy is nothing short of extraordinary”.
