Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases to affect children. It can strike children of any age, even toddlers and babies. If not detected early enough in a child, the disease can be fatal or result in serious brain damage. Yet diabetes in a child is often completely overlooked: it is often misdiagnosed as the flu or it is not diagnosed at all. Every parent, school teacher, school nurse, doctor and anyone involved in the care of children should be familiar with the warning signs and alert to the diabetes threat. Children with diabetes in the developing world are particularly vulnerable. Many lack access to proper care and the life saving medicines they need. As a result, they become chronically ill, many die quickly, while others develop severe complications such as kidney failure, blindness and nerve damage.
Globally, there are close to 500,000 children under the age of 15 with type 1 diabetes
- Every day 200 children develop type 1 diabetes.
- Every year, 70,000 children under the age of 15 develop type 1 diabetes.
- Type 1 diabetes is increasing in children at a rate of 3% each year.
- Type 1 diabetes is increasing fastest in pre–school children, at rate of 5% per year.
- Finland, Sweden and Norway have the highest incidence rates for type 1 diabetes in children.
- Type 2 diabetes has been reported in children as young as eight and reports reveal that it now exists in children thought previously not to be at risk.
- In Native and Aboriginal communities in the United States, Canada and Australia at least one in 100 youth have diabetes. In some communities, it is one in every 25.
- Over half of children with diabetes develop complications within 15 years.
- Global studies have shown that type 2 diabetes can be prevented by enabling individuals to lose 7–10% of their body weight, and by increasing their physical activity to a modest level.
- Type 2 diabetes in children is becoming a global public health issue with potentially serious outcomes.
- Type 2 diabetes affects children in both developed and developing countries.
Diabetes is a deadly disease. Each year, almost 4 million people die from diabetes– related causes. Children, particularly in countries where there is limited access to diabetes care and supplies, die young.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), a build–up of excess acids in the body as a result of uncontrolled diabetes, is the major cause of death in children with type 1 diabetes. With early diagnosis and access to care, the development of severe DKA should be preventable.
- Insulin was discovered more than 85 years ago. Today children in many parts of the world still die because this essential drug is not available to them.
- Children with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar regularly to help control their diabetes. This monitoring equipment is often unavailable or not affordable.
- In Zambia, a child with type 1 diabetes can expect to live an average of 11 years. In Mali, the same child can expect to live for only 30 months. In Mozambique the child is likely to die within a year.
Diabetes is one of the most chronic diseases of childhood. It can strike children of any age including infants and toddlers. World Diabetes Day focuses on children and adolescents to raise awareness of the diabetes and its impact on children. Every child has a right to a long and healthy life.
- No child should die of diabetes.
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is the most common cause of death and disability in children with type 1 diabetes around the world.
- Children die because their families cannot afford the medication they need.
- Many children with diabetes in developing countries die soon after diagnosis.
- Despite modern treatment, over 50% of children with diabetes develop complications 12 years after diagnosis.
- More than 200 children develop type 1 diabetes every day.
- Diabetes is different for children.
- Diabetes affects children of all ages.
- All diabetes is on the rise in children.
- Diabetes affects children of all ages.
- Diabetes is increasing in children and adolescents.
- Care for children is best when a multidisciplinary approach is adopted involving health professionals from all areas that concern children.
- A child’s access to appropriate medication and care should be a right not a privilege.
- Diabetes costs more than money.
- Children with diabetes can live full, healthy, and productive lives.
- Over 50% of type 2 diabetes can be prevented.
- Diabetes brings different challenges at different ages.
- Diabetes hits the poorest hardest.