Bisma Bhat
Srinagar, Mar 14: A four-month-old kid is among the 400 children that have been diagnosed with diabetes and are registered at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) in Soura here.
Medicos at SKIMS said that over the years, the hospital has witnessed an increase in the number of cases of diabetes involving children.
Dr Peerzada Ovais, PhD resident scholar, department of endocrinology, SKIMS told The Kashmir Monitor that they have recently registered a 4-month-old kid with diabetes.
“The infant’s was a case of neonatal diabetes. Earlier Type II diabetes was diagnosed between the age group of 40-50 years but now the trend has drastically changed and 15-year-old children and young adults are diagnosed with the disease,” the doctor said.
Children with Type I diabetes have an absolute deficiency of insulin. “In this condition, the body cannot produce insulin and their survival depends on insulin supplements which they have to take as prescribed,” said Dr Ovais.
He added that as the diabetic patients are increasing over the years and require insulin for their survival, it should be provided for free.
“However, at present, the hospital is providing insulin at half of its price to the patients,” he said.
National Task Force project which was started by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and SKIMS is aimed at the registry of young diabetics across the valley under the age group 25 irrespective of the type of diabetes they have.
On Thursday, SKIMS organised an interactive workshop with their registered young diabetic patients and field doctors where they highlighted the mismatch of intake of Carbohydrate content and insulin.
Dr Shariq Rashid Masoodi, Principal Investigator of the project and Professor at Endocrinology at SKIMS educated the parents of the diabetic children about what content of carbohydrate they have to give their children and accordingly adjust their insulin intake.
“80 per cent of the children that are registered with diabetes have Type I diabetes, while few also have type II diabetes,” Dr Masoodi told The Kashmir Monitor.
The children were divided among four groups and each group was practically shown how they have to frame their diet plan.
A dietitian, Shazia Lone showed that in breakfast they have to include one cup of tea, one homemade chapatti and if they wish to take more, they have to inject one extra unit of insulin.
Likewise, the morning snack should comprise of a small cup of curd plus a small plate of salad (Carrot, cucumber).
In lunch they were told to take two cups of cooked rice with a vegetable of their choice and if they wish they can take a piece of red or white meat.
Similarly, in the evening snack, they can take a small cup of chana (chickpeas) or a cup of salt tea with chapatti.
The dinner, the dietician said, should comprise of the same content as in lunch.
Just before retiring to bed, she recommended drinking a cup of milk.
