THE DEATH of a Flintshire singer to Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) has led to a North Wales MS raising awareness of the condition in the Senedd.

North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to help assist a Flintshire woman who is leading a campaign to raise awareness following the death of her son.

DKA is a complication of type one diabetes and a life-threatening condition, resulting from increased levels of a chemical called ketones in the blood, which requires urgent medical attention.

On Monday, March 6, Mr Isherwood met with Dee Pinnington, who is working to raise awareness of the condition in memory of her son.

Alastair Thomas died of Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) on October 2, 2018.

Known as Ali, he was a singer and musician from Flint who had two young children and died of DKA aged 35, having previously been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in his early twenties.

Ali, who was a pupil at St Richard Gwyn in Flint, followed his dream to be a musician after completing his studies.

The local rock star travelled across the UK to perform at various events as a soloist and as a duo in ‘The Statements’ and a group called ‘Universal Exports’.

In a Business Statement in the Welsh Parliament on Tuesday, March 7, Mr Isherwood called on the Welsh Government to support Ali's mum.

He said: “I call for a single Statement from the Health Minister on raising awareness of diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, a complication of type 1 diabetes.

"Yesterday, I met with Dee Pinnington, to discuss her Raising Awareness Campaign following the death of her son, Alastair, or Ali, Thomas, in 2018 from DKA, as a complication of his type 1 diabetes.

“Ali was a singer and musician from Flint, who had two young children, and died of DKA aged 35. He'd been diagnosed at 21. DKA is a life-threatening problem that affects people with diabetes, resulting from increased levels of a chemical called ketones in the blood. It causes excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue and vomiting.

“Although deaths from DKA are preventable, people with DKA need to be seen immediately for treatment. Dee Pinnington has produced a bilingual leaflet with the Health Board to raise awareness of DKA, which is now in every hospital in North Wales, but she told me that she is trying to get the word out more widely. So, I call for a Statement on how the Welsh Government can assist with this accordingly.”

The Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths MS, commended Dee Pinnington’s efforts to raise awareness of the condition and said she would ask the Minister for Health and Social Services if there's anything the Welsh Government can do to help with that campaign, and make sure the leaflets are even more widely available across Wales.