Alert! Diabetes sufferers in children have increased 70-fold
The third largest killer in Indonesia is often nicknamed the "Mother of All Disease", the status of diabetes sufferers in children has increased 70 times.
Dean Arian
Diabetes sufferers in children have increased 70 times. Diabetes is a frightening scourge that can affect anyone from toddlers, children, and teenagers to the elderly. The third biggest killer in Indonesia is often nicknamed the "Mother of All Diseases" after the mother who gives birth to her children (in the case of diabetes, these are other diseases.) Diabetes can also easily invite other diseases to attack the sufferer's body.
This disease occurs when the pancreas, which produces insulin, does not function as it should or when the body is unable to process insulin properly.
The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) recently stated that by 2023, diabetes sufferers among children will increase 70-fold since 2010. IDAI noted that around 1,645 children in Indonesia suffer from diabetes. This data comes from fifteen cities: Jakarta, Palembang, and Surabaya. According to reports, most data comes from the cities of Surabaya and Jakarta.
From the age range, diabetes sufferers were recorded in children aged around 10 to 14 years with 46 per cent of the total reported data, then from the 5 to 9-year age range, it was recorded as 31.5 per cent of the recorded cases. Around 19 percent of sufferers from toddlers (0 to 4 years) were reported.
In addition, diabetes was found to be more common in girls, around 59 per cent, compared to boys.
Unhealthy lifestyles and consumption of foods high in sugar can cause the high number of cases of diabetes in children. There is currently no cure for diabetes itself, but diabetes can be managed and controlled with medication and insulin.
Causes of Diabetes in Children
- Genetic or hereditary factors where there is a history of diabetes.
- Excessive consumption of foods high in sugar.
- Rarely exercise.
- Obesity.
- Pancreatic damage.
Symptoms of Diabetes in Children
There are two types of diabetes symptoms, namely symptoms of type 1 and 2 diabetes. It is difficult to differentiate sufferers in general, and the symptoms of type 1 and 2 diabetes are often similar; some even show no complaints at all. However, several characteristics often appear in children with diabetes.
- Uncontrolled high appetite.
- Frequent urination and feeling thirsty.
- Drastic weight loss or weight gain.
- Blurred vision.
- Often feel tired, lethargic and sleepy.
- If the wound will be difficult to heal.
- Change in skin color to become darker than original due to acanthosis nigricans.
For parents or close relatives who experience at least 3 of the symptoms above, please immediately have your beloved son or daughter checked at the nearest hospital for early detection and to receive appropriate treatment from doctors and experts.
