The medical experts are concerned about the increasing prevalence of type 1 diabetes in children across the country.
Type 1 diabetes in children is a chronic condition in which the pancreas makes no insulin. Different factors, such as genetics and some viruses, may cause type 1 diabetes. Although type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence, it can develop in adults.
The symptoms of type 1 diabetes can develop very quickly and include increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, and irritability.
Dr. Thereza Piloya, a pediatric endocrinologist in charge of the pediatric diabetic clinic in Mulago Hospital, said Type 1 diabetes is not due to lifestyle at all, but it is genetics and environmental triggers like viruses (rubella, mumps, measles, coxsackie, etc.), pollutants, and toxins that can cause destruction of the pancreas cells that produce insulin.
In Uganda, Mulago, Nsambya, and Arua clinics alone have over 1,000 cases of Type 1 Diabetes as of November 2024,a according to Frank Mugabe, the Principal Medical Officer in the department of Non-Communicable Diseases –NCD, Ministry of Health.
However, for type 2 diabetes, which is common in adults, this can also affect older children and adolescents (10-18 years) due to obesity—energy-dense foods (sodas, packed juices, refined foods like biscuits, cookies, sweets, etc.), fast foods with lots of oil (chips, chicken, burgers, pizzas), alcohol, and smoking. Lack of exercise. But increasing fruit and vegetables in the diet reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, exercise, etc.
“95% of children with diabetes have type 1 diabetes, which is not due to obesity and lifestyle. It’s the interaction of their genes and the environmental triggers that predisposes them to diabetes, Dr. Piloya noted.
Dr. Piloya emphasizes that with proper care and diet, children with type 1 diabetes can live healthy and active lives.
“As our children are home in this long holiday, it’s in every parent’s interest to limit fizzy drinks, as these have a lot of sugars; limit sugar intake in teas; and make sure children are eating good, balanced meals and participating in outdoor games to keep their bodies active,” she advised.
The increasing prevalence of Type 1 diabetes has been recorded at the pediatric diabetic clinics in Mulago, Rubaga.
According to the International Diabetes Foundation, in 2024, an estimated 1.69 million in Uganda had diabetes and of the above, about 10% were children with Type 1 Diabetes.
It has also been established that most of these children are not able to afford these insulin injections; thus, the clinics depend on government and donations to provide insulin to these children.
She recommended regular medical checkups (random blood sugars), especially when a child manifests any of the above signs to rule out diabetes.
The diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children involves a series of blood tests, including a random sugar test, a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test, and fasting blood sugar tests.
