Diabetes impairs the body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels. That can lead to damage to the kidneys & blood vessels through the body. In Type - 1 diabetes ( formerly known insulin-dependent or juvenile diabetes ) occurs when the immune system attacks & destroys the cells of the pancreas that produce insulin. General symptoms of it - increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision & unusual behaviour etc. Type - 1 diabetes in children is treated with lifelong insulin injections, along with strict adherence to diet & lifestyle advice which help to live a near-normal life & avoid complications. Type - 2 diabetes referred to as non-insulin dependent diabetes, is silently assuming epic proportions & holding an entire generation to ransom, affecting children from all income groups. In Type - 2 diabetes, person still produces insulin but the body does not response to it normally. This causes the blood sugar to rise, making the pancreas produce even more insulin. Eventually, the pancreas can wear out from working overtime to produce extra insulin & may no longer be able to produce enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels normal. Symptoms of Type - 2 diabetes include frequent urination, drinking lot of liquids, feeling tired, sometimes developing thick, dark, velvet like skin around the neck, armpit, groin, toes etc, girls may develop poly cystic ovary syndrome, which often shows irregular periods or may stop having periods & more likely to get excess facial & body hair growth, it can also result in fertility problem. The main cause of Type - 2 diabetes considered is overweight. A study has found that around 15% school children in India are obese. According to, " Obesity & Cholesterol Foundation", 8.8% of adolescent have abdominal obesity, which is directly linked to Type - 2 diabetes. Around 68% of urban children lead a sedentary lifestyle with hardly any involvement in outdoor games, about 47% play for less than an hour & sit most of their free times either watching TV or on computer. Around 70% of these obese children are likely to be obese adults with increased susceptibility to diabetes, high B.P. & heart disease. This means the diabetes epidemic, we are facing now is only going to magnify & life expectancy is likely to fall in the next 20 years. Experts feel intervention at the level of school & families can be the sole remedy to deal with the issue, by encouraging regular physical activity, curtailing activities like TV viewing & cutting down on junk foods, fried items, soft drinks etc and increasing intake of fresh fruits & vegetables. On the eve of the World Diabetes Day which will be celebrated on 14th November 2011, our programmes will include seminar & diabetes check up camps in schools with free insulin distribution to poor children.
