By Ernest Nutsugah
Accra, Nov 23, GNA – As part of diabetes awareness, parents have been urged to monitor their children for symptoms of the disease and seek prompt medical care to avoid complications.
Dr. Ewuraa Abena Manu, a Paediatric Endocrinologist at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, stressed the significance of early diagnosis and management of diabetes in children.
She explained that uncontrolled diabetes, which results from high blood sugar levels, could lead to serious complications affecting multiple organs and even result in death.
“In adults, diabetes is often due to insulin not working effectively, possibly due to overuse or other health issues.
“In children, diabetes is usually due to the body not producing insulin, often caused by an infection that damages the pancreas,” she said.
Dr. Manu mentioned some common symptoms of diabetes in children, including frequent urination, excessive thirst, fatigue, and weight loss.
She, however, noted that early detection of these symptoms could prevent the progression to a severe condition known as Diabetes Ketoacidosis (DKA), which is a medical emergency.
Dr. Manu explained that Type 1 diabetes could be diagnosed from 6 months and above, nonetheless, children could live a normal life once it was detected and treated early enough.
“Diabetes is real, we need to test ourselves to know whether we have it or not…the symptoms of diabetes in children are the same as adult diabetes.
“If you have a child with these symptoms, take them to the hospital and have their sugar level checked… if it is high, it is not the end of the world; there is treatment and they can live relatively well,” she stated.
World Diabetes Day is observed every year on November 14 to raise awareness about the prevention, diagnosis, and management of the condition.
This year’s theme was “Breaking Barriers, Bridging Gaps.”
Dr Manu and her team embarked on an awareness campaign on Type 1 diabetes in children which, she said, was often overlooked during general diabetes awareness campaigns.
Together with other health professionals, they visited the Ministry of Health basic school, St Mary’s Senior High School, and the Children’s ward at Korle Bu hospital, to educate parents, pupils and teachers about the symptoms and management of diabetes.
Dr. Manu said the campaign was part of a broader effort to support child health and prevent the long-term complications of diabetes.
The awareness campaign was also to reduce the fear and misconceptions surrounding diabetes in children.
Stressing early treatment, she reassured parents that children with diabetes could live active and healthy lives, and that the condition was not “a death sentence.”
GNA