Going by rough estimates, every year, anywhere between 10,000 and 12,000 children (from two to 14 years) die of diabetes in India. Diabetologists, however, hasten to point out that the numbers could be higher because a large number of children pass away without getting diagnosed with juvenile diabetes (type-1).
Interestingly, endocrinologists and diabetic specialists said that a majority of juvenile diabetic cases that they have come across in Hyderabad and districts in the State are from economically weaker sections.
Doctors maintain that unlike diabetes among adults, which is well documented, there is little awareness and understanding about juvenile diabetes among public.
“Juvenile diabetes is definitely a socio-economic problem because of the financial implications involved. This ailment needs a lot of understanding, by parents and from the society because children need support till they become financially independent and can afford treatment costs on their own,” says K. Lavanya, diabetologist, Dr. Kiran’s Diabetes Clinics and Research Institute.
The challenge with juvenile diabetes is that the children are dependent on insulin throughout their lives.
This creates a lot of implications when children are sent to school.
Moreover, quite often, parents are overwhelmed and struggle to come to terms with the fact that their children are insulin dependent for the rest of their lives.
“Unfortunately, a majority of cases we come across at Gandhi Hospital are youngsters in diabetic coma, which means they have not taken their insulin doses properly and need life support. Such a situation arises purely because of non-compliance with medication. Parents and school teachers have to ensure and help such children take insulin regularly in a day,” says head, paediatrics, Gandhi Hospital, J. Venkateswar Rao. Doctors said that parents need to maintain a steady line of communication with school teachers.
“Such children have special needs like they need to frequently consume food and can’t wait till lunch breaks. They need insulin shots in schools. Often, we have seen that parents do not reveal the child’s health problem to the school management, which is dangerous,” Dr. Lavanya adds.
Thanks to modern drugs, life expectancy of diabetic adults has increased. But can children with diabetes also lead a normal life?
“Yes, even children can lead a normal life. It, however, depends on a lot of factors, including compliance with drugs, parental support, steady supply of insulin and a lot of support from the society in general,” says J. Jayaprakash Sai, diabetologist from Apollo Sugar Clinics.
Health care professionals advocate that Telangana should adopt an ongoing scheme in Tamil Nadu in which insulin is provided free of cost to diabetic children from poor families.
M. Sai Gopal
