New Delhi: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) released a report for treatment guidelines for diabetes.
As per this report, about 95,600 children are suffering from type-1 diabetes in the age group of U-14 years in India.
Besides, around 16,000 new cases are diagnosed every year in this age-group.
Prof (Dr) Balram Bhargava, Director General of ICMR released guidelines for management of type 1 diabetes providing advice on care of diabetes in children, adolescents and adults.
Type-1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease characterized by insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia in people with underlying genetic susceptibility. Notably, type-2 diabetes is emerging as a new childhood disease in India due to an increase in obesity. However, it can be controlled with lifestyle changes and a healthy diet.
Dr Tandon, who prepared the guidelines, said “Children and adolescents are mainly affected with this. Because, we don’t really think of children suffering with type-1 diabetes, our mental picture of diabetes is for those who are old age and overweight. But when children and young adolescents are unwell and nobody thinks in this direction that it could be type-1 diabetes. So, there are chances that diagnoses get missed out and treatment does not start which turns into a life-threatening condition."
People with type 1 diabetes need insulin and other therapies along with certain restrictions to live properly.
However, doctors warned against non-injectable therapy. “In the absence of injectable insulin, this invariably will end up with the child’s condition deteriorating, increasing the risk of fatality. If there is a suspicion of type-1 diabetes, insulin is the only treatment of choice," said the AIIMS doctor. He added that not a single dose of insulin should be missed and sugar levels should be monitored.
Dr. V Mohan, Director, Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai said: “For the first time, we have brought out the comprehensive guidelines for the treatment of children suffering with type-1 diabetes. It talks about this medical condition, how to diagnose, how a child needs to be treated, what kind of insulins, how to give the insulin and how and when to give the insulin, how to prevent complication in children if any. So, the total prevalence of type-1 diabetes in India is over 2.5 lakh in all age groups, out of which there are one lakh children below the age of 14 years."
