Diabetes in Children and Adolescents

Diabetes is one of the most chronic diseases of childhood. It can strike children of any age including infants and toddlers. World Diabetes Day focuses on children and adolescents to raise awareness of the diabetes and its impact on children. Every child has a right to a long and healthy life.

• No child should die of diabetes
• More than 200 children develop type 1 diabetes every day
• Diabetes is different for children
• Care for children is best when a multidisciplinary approach is adopted involving health professionals from all areas that concern children.
• Diabetes hits the poorest hardest.
• A child's access to appropriate medication and care should be a right not a privilege.
• Diabetes costs more than money.
• Over 50% of type 2 diabetes can be prevented.
• All diabetes is on the rise in children.
• Children die because their families cannot afford the medication they need

The World Diabetes Day campaign in 2007 and 2008 aims to:

• Increase the number of children supported by the International Diabetes Federation's Life for a Child Program
• Raise awareness of the warning signs of diabetes
• Encourage initiatives to reduce diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and distribute materials to support these initiatives
• Promote healthy lifestyles to help prevent type 2 diabetes in children