Diabetes, a chronic condition affecting how the body processes blood sugar (glucose), is increasingly being diagnosed in children, raising concerns among healthcare professionals about long-term health risks if the condition is not detected and managed early.

Although often associated with adults, children and adolescents can develop diabetes when the body either produces little or no insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. According to the International Diabetes Federation, about 1.8 million children and adolescents under 20 years old are living with Type 1 diabetes globally, with thousands of new cases reported each year.

At a tertiary hospital in Sokoto, clinicians report seeing children presenting with classic symptoms such as excessive urination, persistent thirst, and unexplained weight loss, sometimes weeks after the onset of illness.

Speaking with PT Health Watch, Oluwakemi Ashubu, a paediatric endocrinologist at University College Hospital, Ibadan, highlighted lifestyle changes as a major factor driving the rise in childhood diabetes. “Unhealthy diets, reduced physical activity, and genetic predispositions are contributing to an increasing number of children and adolescents developing the condition,” she said.

Types of Childhood Diabetes

Ms. Ashubu explained that four types of diabetes can occur in children:

  1. Type 1 Diabetes – The most common form in children, caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, leading to little or no insulin production.
  2. Type 2 Diabetes – Once rare in children, Type 2 is now rising due to obesity, poor diet, sedentary lifestyles, and family history. It usually affects adolescents, particularly during puberty.
  3. Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) – A rare inherited form caused by a single gene mutation, often mistaken for Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
  4. Neonatal Diabetes – Occurs within the first six months of life and is generally genetic.

Early Warning Signs

Parents are urged to watch for the “four Ts of diabetes”: Toilet (excessive urination), Thirsty (excessive drinking of water), Tired (unusual fatigue), and Thinner (weight loss despite adequate or increased food intake).

Ms. Ashubu noted that children who were previously toilet-trained may experience bedwetting again, while persistent tiredness can affect school performance and concentration.

Treatment and Complications

If not properly managed, childhood diabetes can lead to severe short-term and long-term health complications. Short-term emergencies include hyperglycaemia (dangerously high blood sugar) and hypoglycaemia (very low blood sugar), which can cause unconsciousness if not promptly treated.

Long-term complications can affect multiple organs. These include diabetic retinopathy (vision loss), diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease and hypertension), and diabetic neuropathy (nerve pain and numbness). Severe cases may also increase the risk of stroke, heart failure, and peripheral vascular disease, which in extreme cases can lead to amputation.

Ms. Ashubu emphasized that early detection, lifestyle modification, and consistent medical care are critical to preventing complications and improving the quality of life for children living with diabetes.