By Marjory Inglis, health reporter

YOUNG DIABETICS skipping their insulin injections in a bid to stay slim need support to cope with their disease, a leading diabetes expert based at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, said yesterday.

Professor Andrew Morris said the youngsters should not be criticised but helped to live with what is a life-long condition.

He was speaking after a young actress revealed she had lost her sight after missing injections to lose weight.

Professor Morris said that eight years ago researchers at Dundee University discovered there was a problem of people not following doctors’ advice on the number of injections to take. Since then, there has been an effort to improve support mechanisms to help people comply with their medication routine.

However, he was sympathetic to the difficulties of young women with diabetes who just wanted to lead a normal life.

The average age when Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) “comes on” is 12, said Professor Morris. The body loses the ability to produce insulin and lifelong injections are needed.

“The implications of Type 1 diabetes are very challenging, not only in terms of regular insulin injections—up to four times a day in many people—but also the importance of diet, exercise and monitoring of blood sugars by finger-pricking and the risk of hypoglycaemia.

“Add to that the normal challenges of teenage life, then I think it is entirely understandable that many young people find it difficult.”

He said he would not use the term “abuse” for young girls failing to take their injections regularly, hoping to control their weight. “In many ways it is normal behaviour. The important thing is not to be judgmental.

“It is eight years since we first discovered there is a problem and since then we have been working with our patients to try and understand and support and actually empower them.”

He said that a good example of that was the Sweet Talk project, where young people are sent text messages to encourage them to comply with their medication and other regimes intended to control diabetes.

Referring to the case of 26-year-old actress Sarah Caltieri, who admitted skipping injections to control weight and the catastrophic effect that had on her sight, Professor Morris said the case was “tragic” and commented on her “great honesty” in telling her story.

However the Dundee expert stressed that improved care and treatment meant doctors were seeing far fewer cases of eye disease and other diabetes-related problems.

For some time Tayside has carried out annual eye screening of all diabetics and a similar programme is to be made available throughout Scotland.

“We are on the verge of having one of the first nationwide eye screening programmes in the world, as of next March.

“Sarah’s case is very tragic but things are improving.”

He said that over the last five years, almost 27,000 patients had been screened in Tayside. Only 112 had been referred for laser treatment to correct problems.

Professor Morris said that patients not sticking to the exact routine of drug-taking and treatment was “something we see in many long-term illnesses. It is a real challenge for people to take medication regularly.

“Last year the World Health Organisation reported that in terms of adherence to medication, it is time for action.”

Dundee has also pioneered the use of text messaging for young asthmatics, prompting them to use their inhalers regularly.