MUMBAI, 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% to 7% 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 diabetes almost every week," said Dr Sudha Rao, the hospital's medical director and paediatric endocrinologist. "Unlike last year, when there were 72 new cases, this year we have already detected over 50 patients till June 30, which is a worrying upward trend." Dr Sneha Kothari, endocrinologist from Gleneagles Hospital said that Type 1 paediatric diabetes was definitely on the rise, both in terms of data and as observed in practice. "This increase is primarily attributed to changing environmental triggers, viral infections, alteration in early life gut microbiome and chemical exposure, which in genetically susceptible individuals can trigger autoimmune destruction of the pancreas' beta cells." Unlike Type 2 diabetes, Type 1 is not caused by lifestyle or eating habits but is an autoimmune disease in which the body destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Once that happens, insulin is no longer optional medicine; it is as essential as oxygen for survival. Without insulin, a child cannot survive. The survival process is not easy. A child with Type 1 diabetes needs multiple injections every day, frequent blood sugar checks, dietary discipline, regular hospital visits, and constant monitoring for emergencies such as dangerously low sugars or diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition that continues to claim young lives with Type 1 diabetes in India. For many parents, the diagnosis arrives without warning. "Some children are brought unconscious to emergency rooms while others are rushed into intensive care before the family even understands what the disease is," said Dr Rao. The paediatrician emphasised that the introduction of screening methods for early detection and management of Type 1 diabetes was especially important. However, continuity of care comes at a high financial cost, especially for low-income families. The annual expense on insulin, glucose strips, and newer diabetes technologies can easily cross Rs.70,000 to Rs.90,000 per year per child and often even more. Most families pay these expenses out of pocket. Some reduce insulin doses to save money while others stop follow-up visits altogether. Wadia Hospital is now working on developing a patient-friendly, doctor-driven AI-assisted app to provide guidance on medication and care. "The app will initially be for Wadia Hospital, and subsequently be expanded to include Type 1 juvenile diabetes patients in Mumbai, Maharashtra and across the country," Dr. Rao said....