Comments

As wasteful and tragic as Adams death is, if this website helps to raise awareness and saves just one life, then that would be one of the best tributes to Adam that I can think of. Erol

In all the time I knew him I think Adam went to the doctor perhaps four or five times. Observers often associate this behaviour with a degree of arrogance or a false assumption of invincibility, however I feel that the personality trait that lends itself to this destructive pattern is one of fragility of confidence and an internalised suspicion that ones own problems are insignificant in importance next to other people's. One thing that Adam's unfortunately shortened life should teach us is that we have a duty to our loved ones to keep ourselves healthy. To do this successfully we need to be as committed to our own care as we are to the care and nurturing of the people we love. Paradoxically that means sometimes being selfish enough to think only of ourselves. Although Adam's life and talents are unique, his death and the tragic circumstances around it are not. Adam was a wonderful friend and I will always miss him Paul Thorley

A friend forwarded the link to me. I'm awaiting the results of a blood sugar test, and am currently having NLP as a way of helping me break my sugar addiction. My younger brother was diagnosed diabetic 4 years ago aged 36, yet it's not in the family and he's not the sugar fiend I am. Since some of the symptoms on the web site are familiar to me over recent months, I am keeping fingers crossed all will be well when the results arrive, but meantime I have, I hope, changed my lifestyle for good. I'll be buying plectrums and wristbands for myself and friends. Bless you for this website, and may Adam be making beautiful music among the stars. Sky

I heard about Adam on the radio this morning – LBC 97.3 read out details… I used to compete against Adam at the Liverpool Music Festival. He could play Chopin and Liszt like no-one else – he had such large hands – whereas I would play Mozart and Bach (hands are very small…). He was always so charming and really genuine… as well as being very talented. Am gutted to hear what happened to him, particularly so young – life ahead. Would certainly be happy to help with anything if I can… Simone

Our 2 year old son Ben had an ear infection and was put on antibiotics, but at the same time began having restless nights and became increasing thirsty and excessively wetting his nappy. We took him to the doctor and it was all put down to the ear infection and the body flushing the infection out. I said that the symptoms matched those of our friend’s child who is diabetic and could he do a diabetes test. Our doctor did a finger prick test following our request and almost fell off his chair when he saw the results. Within an hour we were in hospital where we stayed for four days. Ben is making great progress now. If you are worried or suspect any early symptoms please do not accept no for an answer and persist until you are tested for diabetes. My wife and I fully support any organisation promoting the recognition of diabetic symptoms and diagnoses. My family did not know Adam but from reading this site, it just demonstrates what a tragic loss of life which did not need to happen. Phil, Cheryl and Ben Adams

I have just come across your wonderful web site following a search of my late sisters name (Sarah Jane McNicholas) I am humbled that you have chosen to include Sarah Jane's story on such a wonderful site. God bless you all and keep up the great work, I think your aim is so important anything at all we can do to help please let us know. Our fight goes on so that we can rest in our peace knowing that we have done our bit to make this world a safer place for diabetics. Mike McNicholas

I would like to say how touched I am at seeing a website to Adam, I am a diabetic myself and currently doing research for college, as I will be studying Nursing in university next year, on the ignorance and awareness of diabetes, I too feel that it is so important for people to be more aware of just how severe undiagnosed diabetes is, and that fact that Adam was not the only one who has been failed by the people we trust most to get it right. I have been living in Swansea for 2 years and the ignorance of people I have come across is unbelievable. Andy Clarke

Just over a year ago I was feeling very ill and lost over a stone in weight in just over 2 weeks. My skin was paper thin and my trousers were falling down! I went to the doctor reluctantly as I was concerned he would put the weight loss down to an eating disorder – which he did ask first! He sent me for a routine blood test which he didn't expect to show anything. Luckily I went for the blood test straight away and within an hour was admitted to hospital with a blood sugar of 37. It was over New Year and if I hadn't gone for the blood test it is unlikely I would have survived the weekend. I am now a Type 1 diabetic with a 5 injection a day insulin regime. It is fair to say that I have a reasonably normal life, but not the same one I had before! Keep up the good work, it is really important that people understand the symptoms – especially for Type 1 which is a silent killer. Louise Walker

I strongly support your campaign having had an 18 month old who nearly died from undiagnosed diabetes in 2000. I took Tom to my GP having followed a simple flow chart in a BMA children's illnesses book, and got to the name Diabetes Mellitus. I was so scared and confused, so when the GP just said he couldn't have diabetes as he was too young, it would be unbelievably rare, I believed him and accepted a diagnosis of gastroenteritus. To cut a long story short, Tom went though 5 GPs to be diagnosed. A lab test on his urine was sent back as negative when in fact it hadn't been tested at all. Not one GP did a dip stick on his urine which would have shown the glucose and got us to hospital. A few pence saved but a life almost lost. Eventually a GP did a BM on him and he was of course off the scale. Tom had to be incubated and went into a coma, was taken by ambulance to Guys and slowly rehydrated at the risk of brain swelling and serious damage. Guys were brilliant and they gave me my son. Jacqui Double

Our friend’s daughter nearly died due to misdiagnosis when she was under 12 months of age. Luckily after a scary 48 hours she recovered and is a happy little 11 year old. I know now that if I hear anyone saying they or their child is urinating a lot I automatically, without hesitation, ask them to get a blood test or urine check just to be on the safe side. Alarm bells should ring as soon as someone says they are thirsty or urinating more than usual. Sue Anderson

I was very sad to read about Adam in the article in The Standard on Monday (23.07.07). I have read the web site you have set up in Adam's name and think it is wonderful. I have a son James who is now 15. Similarly to Adam, he lost 7 kilos in a week and collapsed literally in the GP's surgery. He was taken to Intensive care for five days - His Diabetes is now pretty good. He is a wonderful pianist and rower. Jan Black

My son was diagnosed five years ago at the age of 15. He had lost weight and was tired but I just put it down to his teenage years. At school he had been falling asleep in class and running out of classes to urinate and drink This was not reported to me and I only found out about this at parents night. The next day I rang the GP to discuss the symptons and he told me it didn't sound like anything to worry about! I took him him anyway and after a urine sample we were rushed to hospital. I was devastated and felt completely guilty that I had no knowledge of the condition. It was a completely traumatic time for us all and I think an awful lot more can be done not only with the awareness but with counselling and websites like this! Chris Magee

My young son was diagnosed in December 2007. A week prior to his diagnosis I took Owen to the GP as he had thrush, whilst there the GP asked if there were any other concerns, I explained that he had been drinking excessively for a couple of weeks. The GP asked if there was a history of diabetes, which there isn't, so he siad it wouldn't be that. Still concerned we did a urine test with a pee stick we got from a friend who is a GP, that showed high glucose and high ketones. Our friend advised an immediate appointment with the GP. I took Owen there that day and the GP said that you couldn't prove diabetes from one test. After we made a fuss he reluctantly agreed to write a referral to the paediatric department. Unsatisfied with that we took Owen straight to A&E and were admitted to the childrens ward. His sugar level was 34.6 with the start of ketoacidosis. It scares me to think what would have happened had we just accepted the GP's decision. Kate Beckingham

I was sick for 5 weeks before my diagnosis in June 2007 with the same symptoms as Adam. I was at the doctors every week and was being treated for depression and blood tests for thyroid and general bloods as I could not get out of bed nauseated, insatiable thirst, sweating and hallucinating. I thought I was thirsty as it was summer and also as you are delirious you are not thinking straight. I think my GP could have run a few simple tests to discover my diagnosis. I suggested diabetes myself and was given a blood test. When it returned five days later diabetes was confirmed. When I saw my GP for the results he did a finger prick test which I feel could have been done long before that. I think we need to get a general test introduced for adults in the UK for diabetes. Denise Martin

I too experienced ketoacidosis. I had lost a little weight - I didn't make a big deal about it as I felt fine, a lttle tired, but it was December and I had just moved house. In January I had a really bad cold that I couldn't shake and I also noticed that my eyesight was a little blurred and I was extremely thirsty. At this time I knew all the symptoms of diabetes but it never crossed my mind that I could be diabetic - I have always been fit and active, I have a very healthy diet and I have never been overweight - and I believed 36 year olds don't become diabetic. By February I had lost a great deal of weight, blurred vision, uncontrollable thirst, constantly at the toilet, tingling on my lips and tongue, extreme tiredness, agressiveness and feeling sick after eating. My Dad got me to the doctor and he knew immediately what was wrong. He sent me to hospital - my blood sugar was 42 mmol/l and I was suffering from Ketoacidosis. Lorna Mercer

I had a similar experience to Adam’s - mine started with a tooth abscess which progressed to constantly going to the toilet, laboured breathing and blindness. A friend became concerned and phoned for a paramedic who took me to hospital. After a brief examination I was told I just needed stronger antibiotics for my tooth abscess. Fortunately my friend felt that something was not right and took me back to her home to stay overnight and keep an eye on me. The next day she could not wake me and decided to call for an ambulance, when I got to hospital I was rushed into intensive care in a coma with a blood sugar level of 60. I think testing blood sugar levels should be checked routinely by the medical profession. I think if it was not for my friend's help I to would have died. Mike Chalker

Adam's story is a frighteningly real one. I was diagnosed with Diabetes at the age of 10. However my father came very close to death as his diabetes was also unrecognised until he fell into a coma - he had just turned 24 at the time, my mother was 8½ months pregnent with me and also had my then 2½ year old sister to care for - she was only 19 herself. Thankfully we are both in good health at the moment but over the past 3/4 years I have been in hospital over 15 times due to my diabetes. It's a scary condition and although it can be controled it's sadly not always so simple. Becky Hynes

My son almost died, aged 5, through misdiagnosis. He'd just started school and had also just got over a nasty virus so his symptoms, at first, were put down to him being tired and off his food. When the not eating continued I took him to our GP who told me that it was psychological, that he was either being bullied at school or that my husband and I were obviously traumatising our son. He advised feeding him ice-cream! Then later that day he came out in a rash, so fearing meningitis I took him to our local A&E. There he was assessed and they asked to do a urine sample. However on exiting the toilet he vomited. I passed the sample to the nurse but assume that it was never tested as the judgement they passed was that it was a virus. Two days later he took a sudden turn for the worse. At A&E he saw a competent doctor who correctly diagnosed him - at blood glucose and ketone levels that she estimated that put him less than 24 hours away from death. Katrina Halsey

My son Danny passed away March 28th 2009 almost identically to Adam.He was 19, in good health and came down with what we thought was just a stomach virus, he was gone in 2 short days.Had we only known we might still have him with us today. Diagnosis here in the states often comes after they've gone into crisis and are hospitalized or have died. Sadly Type 1 diabetes is on the rise worldwide and not enough doctors are educating people on the symptoms which can be misleading, but still ,sometimes a seemingly run of the mill virus is really something much more serious.My sympathies to the Bell family and let's hope for a cure and better diagnostics so that there are no more tragedies like these. Erika Reininger

I was sad to hear about Adam's case of diabetes, that I found out about due to a poster in a gym. It is satisfying to see that you are doing as much as possible to prevent such tragedies like Adam, I was diagnosed with type 1 four months ago a week before my 18th birthday and in the middle of my A levels, the most important in my life. However, I can understand some of the comments on here, I don't do not think I would have gone to the doctors if I was not forced to by my girlfriend, but its alarming the amount of people who have the level of arrogance not to go to the doctors is the worst thing to do. Anyway having diabetes is the cards I have been drawn in life and just have to deal with them, staying healthy is key eating well and keeping fit. I live a normal life and going to run the Leeds half marathon for the Adam Bell Foundation which is such a good cause. Tom W