Issue of rising diabetes in children raised in Parliament
Neeti Gopendra Bhatt
New Delhi | The campaign by two doctor sisters from Gujarat, Dr. Smita Joshi and Dr. Shuklaben Rawal, to urge the Indian government to formulate a special health policy to control the rising cases of diabetes (Type 1 diabetes) in children in India is now gaining momentum, and the issue has even been raised in Parliament. Currently, Gujarat and Rajasthan are the only two states where, thanks to the efforts of these doctor sisters, arrangements for the diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes have been announced in all government hospitals.
In this context, these two sisters are once again traveling across India to raise awareness about the increasing incidence of diabetes in children and to advocate for policy formulation for its management. Previously, as part of their awareness campaign for Type 1 diabetes, they had traveled 7,000 km from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in India and from the East Coast to the West Coast in the United States. Currently, they are touring Andhra Pradesh in South India. Before this, after visiting Assam and Odisha and meeting with senior health officials there, these two doctor sisters met with Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav and urged him to send a proposal to the Government of India under the Program Implementation Plan (PIP) for children with Type 1 diabetes in Andhra Pradesh. She will also be visiting Rajasthan on March 16-17.
Dr. Smita Shukla explained that currently, Program Implementation Plan (PIP) meetings are being held in all states under the National Health Mission. In these meetings, each state requests funds from the central government for any innovative health program. Our effort is to encourage as many states as possible to request funds from the central government under the PIP for children suffering from diabetes so that these children can receive medical facilities.
*Issue Raised in Parliament*
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Anil Bonde (Maharashtra) strongly raised the serious health challenges associated with Type 1 diabetes in the Upper House of Parliament and demanded that the central government take concrete policy steps in this direction.
Raising the issue in the House, Dr. Anil Bonde said, “Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease requiring lifelong treatment, which is particularly affecting children and young people. Patients with this disease require insulin, regular check-ups, and continuous medical care throughout their lives.”
He further added, “In many parts of the country, there is still a lack of adequate awareness and timely diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes, due to which patients and their families face serious physical, mental, and economic difficulties.”
Dr. Bonde urged the government to “recognize Type 1 diabetes as a serious national health challenge and ensure that special programs, affordable insulin availability, modern diagnostic facilities, and expert treatment are included under national health schemes.” He also said that, “Ensuring equal access to treatment and medicines for patients living in rural and backward areas is the need of the hour, so that no child or young person suffers simply due to lack of resources.”
According to MP Dr. Bonde, if a coordinated policy, awareness campaigns, and resources are provided in a timely manner, millions of families affected by Type 1 diabetes can be relieved, and the country's public health system can also be strengthened.
Dr. Bonde said that Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin, requiring lifelong insulin and medical monitoring. He stated that today, Type 1 diabetes is no longer limited to adults but is also rapidly increasing among children and young people. The burden of Type 1 diabetes is a matter of concern worldwide, including in India. According to the International Diabetes Federation, more than 1.21 million children and adolescents worldwide are living with Type 1 diabetes, with India accounting for a significant proportion, and approximately 65 children or adolescents are diagnosed with the disease every day.
MP Bonde stated that many families lack regular access to affordable insulin, blood-sugar monitoring devices, and expert care for Type 1 diabetes treatment, especially in rural and backward areas. He urged the central government to prioritize this disease in national health programs to ensure timely diagnosis, treatment, and long-term management.
Following Dr. Bonde's raising of this serious health issue in Parliament, several MPs supported his call and urged the Indian government to take national-level awareness, treatment facilities, and policy measures.
Experts also acknowledged that in a countries like India, expanding awareness campaigns, regular screenings, and school-based health check-ups are crucial for preventing and managing diabetes cases, including Type 1 diabetes, thereby improving the quality of life for those affected.
According to experts, the total number of people with diabetes in India has reached approximately 11.4 percent of the population, while 15.3 percent are in a pre-diabetic state and are at risk of developing diabetes in the future. The impact of Type 1 diabetes is not limited to health alone; associated complications such as eye, kidney, and heart problems also profoundly affect the lives of patients. Experts believe that comprehensive health education and easily accessible treatment can significantly reduce these risks.
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