Children with type 1 diabetes increase, Ministry of Health guides diagnosis and treatment

Children receive diabetes treatment consultation at the National Children's Hospital - Photo: Provided by the hospital

On the afternoon of June 24, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management ( Ministry of Health ) organized an online training course on diagnosis and treatment of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents.

The first professional diabetes guidelines for children and adolescents compiled in Vietnam.

Type 1 diabetes is increasing in children.

According to the Ministry of Health , the most common diabetes in children and adolescents is type 1 diabetes, accounting for 90% of diabetes in children.

According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2022, there are 8.75 million people in the world living with type 1 diabetes, of which 1/5 live in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

In 2022 alone, globally there will be 530,000 new cases of type 1 diabetes in all ages, of which 201,000 will be in people under 20 years old.

In Vietnam, there is currently no complete data on the epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in children. However, data from pediatric hospitals show that there are approximately 2,000 children nationwide diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

The number of children with type 1 diabetes has been increasing nationwide over the past 7 years. At the National Children's Hospital, from 2017 to 2023, each year there were 60 to 95 new children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

To enhance standardization and quality in the diagnosis and treatment of type 1 diabetes, based on scientific and technical advances and international recommendations, the Ministry of Health has developed Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents.

Need early detection and treatment

According to experts, type 1 diabetes, also known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is mainly found in children and adolescents, because the pancreas is no longer able to produce enough insulin. Patients with type 1 diabetes need to be treated with insulin to have a chance to live.

Signs of diabetes in children include frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, lack of energy, or always feeling tired and thirsty.

According to Mr. Tran Minh Dien, Director of the National Children's Hospital, type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, from newborns to older people. If not detected and treated early, the disease can progress to severe acidosis, threatening life.

Once the disease is detected, doctors will come up with a treatment plan. In the early stages, children will be treated in hospitals, and their insulin doses will be calculated.

Once the treatment is stable, the child can be treated and monitored at home. In addition to insulin treatment, diet and exercise are also very important in the treatment of type 1 diabetes in children.

Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes in children focus mainly on clinical practice in the diagnosis and treatment of type 1 diabetes with the goal of early detection, timely diagnosis, treatment, and good control of type 1 diabetes. Reduce the burden of disease for children and families living with type 1 diabetes, helping children have a long, healthy life.

Denmark supports Vietnam to improve its capacity to treat childhood diabetes

Also on the afternoon of June 24, the Danish Embassy and the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment (Ministry of Health) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation to improve medical capacity for the 2024-2026 period.

The Ministry of Health and the Danish Embassy in Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation - Photo: D.LIEU

The program's goal is to improve the quality of examination and treatment of chronic diseases towards a better quality of life for patients.

The Danish Embassy will cooperate and facilitate knowledge exchange. At the same time, enhance medical training, information exchange, and experience sharing on non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes and obesity. Develop and update professional medical guidelines and address treatment gaps.

Previously, in the period of 2016-2023, the Ministry of Health also coordinated with the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam to implement a cooperation program in the field of medical training and achieved many results such as improving the capacity of 4,500 general practitioners and specialists nationwide on diabetes and obesity and developing professional guidelines,...

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tre-em-mac-benh-dai-thao-duong-type-1-tang-bo-y-te-huong-dan-chan-doan-va-dieu-tri-20240624162756406.htm