THE STAR
Wednesday November 14, 2007
THERE was a time when it was rare for children to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes which usually afflicts those above 45 or who are obese. But in the last 10 years, doctors are seeing an increasing number of children with Type 2 diabetes. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the defence system attacks insulin-producing cells. As a result, the pancreas stops producing insulin that is essential in converting sugar into energy, so that sugar remains in the blood stream and can cause many health complications.  | Malaysian Diabetes Association president Professor Ikram Shah Ismail. | With Type 2 diabetes, the body develops a resistance to insulin. Malaysian Diabetes Association president Professor Ikram Shah Ismail says that doctors here are reporting that a third of their paediatric diabetic patients have the Type 2 variety. The increase of Type 2 paediatric diabetic patients points to one fact – more children and adolescents are living a sedentary lifestyle and are overweight or obese. About 250 million people are diabetics worldwide and it is expected to reach 380 million by 2025, representing 7.1% of the adult population. Between 1999 and 2004, Health Ministry statistics show a 56% increase of those below 19 years old being admitted into hospitals due to diabetes, from 837 to 1,305 cases. About 50% of them have Type 2 diabetes. About a quarter of obese children risk having Type 2 diabetes and 17% are unaware of their condition, said Universiti Malaya Medical Centre paediatric endocrinologist Professor Dr Fatimah Harun at the World Diabetes Day seminar recently. Today is World Diabetes Day, themed Diabetes among Children and Adolescents. Diabetes is the first non-infectious disease to be recognised as a global health threat. The others are HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. One of the dangers in paediatric diabetes is misdiagnosis. “We want parents to check for diabetes if their child is bed-wetting without good reason. If not, it will lead to ketoacidosis and death,” Prof Ikram warns. Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is the leading cause of death and disability in children with Type 1 diabetes across the globe. Teaching young people about diabetes is a good start in combating this disease. While Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented at present, preventing Type 2 diabetes is possible – start shedding the weight and get a good workout. Related Story:
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