Childhood Diabetes in India: Symptoms to Preventions, All You Need to Know About Rise in Diabetes in Kids

Nearly a month ago, according to an ICMR-backed Lancet study, India has over a million diabetics with a prediction likely to increase in the future.

Child diabetes: Diabetes is a metabolic disease that is constantly on the rise in India. Recently, there have been studies and reports suggesting that non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension are some of the health conditions that are growing in the country. A new study published in the JAMA network journal listed India as one of the countries with the most childhood diabetes deaths in 2019.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) was previously called juvenile diabetes mellitus or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. It is an autoimmune condition that leads to the destruction of pancreatic cells that normally secrete a hormone called insulin (which is necessary for the metabolism of sugar in food and causes sugar to enter the cells of the body that can be used for fuel) leading to increased blood sugar levels (called hyperglycemia).

According to a BBC report, “changes in lifestyles, improved living standards, migration to cities, erratic work schedules, sedentary habits, stress, pollution, change in Eating habits and the easy availability of fast food are some of the reasons why diabetes is increasing. In India”.

SYMPTOMS AND PREVENTIONS OF CHILDHOOD DIABETES

Any age group can be affected by type 1 DM, but the most common age group at diagnosis is 4-6 years and at early puberty around 10-14 years of age. Data from India show a prevalence of 10-15 children per 1 lakh population and in certain urban areas the prevalence is three times higher.

In recent decades, the prevalence has been steadily increasing due to multiple factors, such as increased genetic predisposition, environmental factors leading to increased autoimmune disorders, and exposure to viruses in utero.

Symptoms:

• Urination
• Excessive thirst
• unexplained weight loss
• Infections of the skin and genital tract.
• Acute onset vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Altered sensory indicating a state called diabetic ketoacidosis: Excess sugar in the blood turns into acids due to insulin not working.

Prevention

• disease protection
• Avoid immunogenic milk
• Regular exams as part of health checks.
• Control weight to avoid obesity.

Guaranteed therapy for the prevention of this is still underway, however there are ways to control childhood diabetes. Also, since a sedentary lifestyle is the main reason leading to an increase in cases, lifestyle changes should be checked first.