Children with type 1 diabetes increase, Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management guides diagnosis and treatment

Children receive diabetes treatment advice 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 on the rise in children

According to the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, Ministry of Health, the most common diabetes in children and adolescents is type 1 diabetes. According to statistics, type 1 diabetes accounts 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, there will be 530,000 new cases of type 1 diabetes globally in all ages, including 201,000 people under the age of 20.

In Vietnam, there is currently no comprehensive data on the epidemiology of type 1 diabetes in children. However, data from pediatric hospitals show that nearly 2,000 children nationwide have been 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 technological 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 first stage, the child will be treated in the hospital, calculating the insulin dose for the child.

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 primarily 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 capacity to treat childhood diabetes

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

The Ministry of Health and the Danish Embassy in Vietnam signed a memorandum of 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, strengthen 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 Danish Embassy 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, developing professional guidelines, etc.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tre-mac-benh-dai-thao-duong-type-1-tang-cuc-quan-ly-kham-chua-benh-huong-dan-chan-doan-dieu-tri-20240624162756406.htm