World Diabetes Day highlights the need for greater global awareness of diabetes and this year’s theme is “Diabetes in Children and Adolescents.’

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and World Health Organization introduced the day over 15 years ago to bring awareness to the disease, which affects over 250 million people worldwide.

It is one of the few health-related holidays recognized by the United Nations. Campaign Director of IDF, Phil Riley said:

“We want people to draw attention to diabetes,”

“We encourage them to do fun things that involve family, friends and colleagues. We need people with diabetes everywhere to know that they are connected to a global community.”

World Diabetes Day 2008 has a special focus on spotting the disease in children, Type 1 diabetes, a chronic childhood disease that isn’t easy to spot because many of the symptoms are similar to a bad case of the flu.

It is estimated that 200 children develop the disease per day. This year, the day’s main message is to look out for the following symptoms in children and young adults: frequent urination, rapid weight loss, lack of energy and extreme thirst.

As diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood, and the incidence of type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing in children and adolescents, diabetes awareness in this age group and its carers is extremely important.

Undiagnosed or inadequately controlled diabetes can lead to hyperglycaemia, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and coma, and may also have harmful cognitive and behavioural effects.

“Controlling diabetes in children and adolescents is of particular importance due to the disruptive effects of inadequate glucose control on the developing brain. Individuals with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus manifest an array of modest functional and structural changes within the CNS, which occur relatively early in the course of the disease, and do not appear to be progressive over time.”

Early diagnosis of diabetes is therefore vital in children and adolescents to establish adequate control of the disease at an early stage.

Anyone involved in the care of children should be able to recognize the diabetes warning signs of: excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss and tiredness.

Children may also show the specific symptoms of: lack of interest and concentration, headaches and recurrent vomiting and stomach pain.

Though Type 2 diabetes was once believed to be reserved for adulthood, the prevalence of the condition in children has increased drastically (from 8 percent to 45 percent, depending on the country).

DR Martin Silink, president of IDF said:

“While we want people to enjoy the celebrations, we don’t want them to lose sight of the serious global impact of diabetes,”

“The stark truth is that many, children included, are dying in the developing world because they cannot access the medication, monitoring and education they need to survive.”

You can find out more about the World Diabetes Day campaign  here: and to read related topical reviews in diabetes and hypoglycaemia please visit the Diabetic Hypoglycaemia online HERE: