My 12 year old daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes diabetes weeks after getting the COVID vaccine. Her doctor says there has been a big increase in childhood cases of the disease since the pandemic. Could the vaccines be to blame?
Type 1 diabetes tends to begin in childhood, but rates have certainly skyrocketed since the pandemic.
People with this condition cannot produce enough insulin to keep their blood sugar levels under control. This is because their immune system mistakenly destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
If left uncontrolled, high blood sugar levels can lead to serious problems such as blindness, heart disease and loss of limbs.
More research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn about any link between the vaccine and type 1 diabetes, but it is highly unlikely that Covid vaccines are to blame for the rise in the disease.
Around 450,000 people in the UK have type 1 diabetes and doctors are still not sure what causes it (model poses)
For this reason, patients rely on regular insulin injections to keep their blood sugar levels at a healthy level.
Around 450,000 people in the UK have type 1 diabetes and doctors are still not sure what causes it.
We have a greater understanding of type 2 diabetes, which affects around five million people in the UK and is caused by obesity, poor diet and lack of exercise.
Researchers began noticing a rise in type 1 diabetes in children at the start of the pandemic. Within a year, there was a 14 percent increase in diagnoses, compared with before COVID. And, two years later, the rate had increased by about a third compared with pre-pandemic times.
While researchers have not come to a conclusion about what is behind this increase, there are several compelling theories. It is possible that these children contracted COVID and their immune systems overreacted, leading to the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic cells.
Another theory is that there are certain (unknown) germs that most children pick up in their early years that help protect them against diseases like diabetes.
Some researchers argue that because of lockdowns and social distancing measures, some people did not acquire them, which increased their risk of developing diabetes.
More research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn, but it is highly unlikely that Covid vaccines are to blame for the rise in type 1 diabetes.
That’s because the surge in diagnoses began before most children had received the vaccine. Children aged 12 to 15 were not offered the vaccine until late 2021. Meanwhile, children aged 5 to 11 did not receive it until mid-2022.
There is also no evidence that vaccinated adults were more likely to develop diabetes.
Whatever the cause, a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes can be difficult. Charities, such as Diabetes UK, can provide support and advice.
I am 64 years old and my hair has started to thin at an alarming rate. My GP says I am otherwise healthy and it is unlikely to be due to any medication I am taking. Do you think hormone replacement therapy could help?
Hair loss is distressing no matter your age or gender, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may help.
This is because hair loss is a common symptom of menopause and is linked to the decline of the female hormone estrogen. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which increases levels, helps to slow hair loss. Some women even report hair regrowth, although patients should not expect this.
A GP may prescribe HRT after an assessment to see if it is the best option. They would only recommend it to you if you were in perimenopause or menopause.
Older women are sometimes warned not to take hormone replacement therapy because, after age 60, the risks (including a small increase in cancer risk) may begin to outweigh the benefits.
Menopause is not the only cause of hair loss in women.
Female pattern hair loss, where the hair becomes thinner over time, can also occur. It is often genetic, but you can have it even if your parents didn’t have it.
Doctors can prescribe a lotion, minoxidil, to treat it, which can slow and even reverse hair loss.
I have been diagnosed with a genetic disease I’d never heard of before, called AATD, which can damage the lungs and liver. I’m worried that my son may be in danger, too.
Do you have more information about the condition?
AATD, or alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, is a common genetic disorder affecting around 22,000 people in the UK.
It causes lung and liver problems, which can range from mild to life-threatening.
Patients often begin to experience shortness of breath and wheezing in adulthood. This is often due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is often associated with smoking or old age.
People can also develop cirrhosis of the liver (scarring) and even liver cancer, so patients are closely monitored.
People with AATD who smoke, drink, or are obese are more likely to be severely affected, so avoiding these habits is crucial.
It is also important to screen family members, including children and siblings, for AATD through a blood test performed by a primary care physician.
Some people carry the defective gene linked to AATD but do not have the disease, meaning they can pass it on to their children without realising it.
The charity Asthma and Lung UK supports people with AATD, as does the British Liver Trust.
WHAT WILL WORKING ACCORDING TO FACTORY DOCTORS’ STANDARDS MEAN FOR PATIENTS?
Family doctors are not going on strike, but they have decided to work in a civic manner
You will have probably seen the headlines that GPs have gone on strike over a contractual dispute that is expected to last several months.
GPs will not go on strike but will have to choose between a range of protest measures, including limiting the number of consultations they carry out to 25 a day, a measure known as “working to the rules”.
However, patients who feel they need to see their GP should make an appointment. Not all GPs are taking part in the protest, so your local practice may not be affected.
All clinics will be open from 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday. GPs will assess all applications and prioritise those most in need. Anyone showing possible symptoms of cancer will be seen urgently.
Asda helps detect oral cancer
The NHS and Asda have teamed up to provide vital advice on millions of tubes of toothpaste and bottles of mouthwash, encouraging people to contact their GP or dentist if they notice any potential symptoms of mouth cancer.
The supermarket is not normally the place you would expect to be reminded about the risk of oral cancer, but that is exactly what Asda has decided to do.
Starting this month, its own-brand oral hygiene products, such as toothpaste and mouthwash, will list symptoms.
These include white or red patches in the mouth that do not heal within three weeks, a lump or swelling in the mouth, jaw, or neck that lasts more than three weeks, and difficulty swallowing, chewing, or moving the jaw or tongue.
The campaign, in collaboration with the NHS, could not come at a more important time.
Oral problems are often detected too late due to a shortage of dentists, so I am pleased that Asda has decided to help tackle this issue.
And if you have any of the symptoms listed, urgently consult your GP.
Do you have a question for Dr Ellie Cannon? Please email DrEllie@mailonsunday.co.uk. Dr Cannon is unable to enter into personal correspondence and her responses should be interpreted in a general context.