India, July 24 -- Even as diabetes has been recognised as an epidemic across the nation, city doctors have expressed concern that cases of Type 1 paediatric diabetes are witnessing a steady rise of 6% to7% per annum nationally. According to the Indian Diabetes Foundation Atlas, over 300,000 children are living with Type 1 diabetes and 19,000 children are expected to be added every year.

The paediatric endocrinology section of Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children, Mumbai's biggest paediatric superspeciality hospital, is currently treating over 1,300 children in the age group of six months to 18 years, with more than 1,200 of these receiving regular long-term follow-up and specialised care.

"We have been detecting one child with Type 1 ...