According to the latest figures announced by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the occasion of World Diabetes Day, cases of diabetes have quadrupled worldwide since 1990. In fact, there are now more than 800 millions of adults affected by the disease. And faced with this worrying increase, awareness of the dangers of the disease and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle seem to be the only defenses. Explanations!
Three hundred and eighty-eight (388) new cases of diabetes, 3 of which were type 2, were recorded in children aged under 15 in all public sector hospitals in the wilaya of Algiers. and this during the period from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021″, this is what indicates the register of type 1 diabetes in children aged under 15 years at the level of the wilaya of Algiers, developed by the National Institute of Public Health. Nearly half of these cases were mainly diagnosed in three structures, namely the EPH of Birtraria with a rate of 19.4%, the Nafissa Hamoud University Hospital with 19.4% and finally the Mustapha University Hospital with 11.1%. .
And of the 385 new cases of type 1 diabetes, 199 were males compared to 186 females. With constantly increasing numbers, diabetes therefore constitutes a major public health problem. “Indeed, diabetes is clearly increasing, which is worrying,” assures Dr Tanina Hakem, diabetologist endocrinologist. According to her, the main reason for this increase is none other than the change in lifestyle habits, diet and lack of physical activity.
“Modern man does not move and eats very poorly,” laments Dr Hakem. “In addition, the quintessential Mediterranean diet that was ours is increasingly replaced by processed food, a diet rich in sugar and fat,” she continues. The specialist also deplores the poor lifestyle of young people.
Moreover, the register indicates that the average age of new cases of type 1 diabetes was 7-9 years. “For a quarter of the individuals surveyed, the age at diagnosis of the disease was less than 5.0 years,” explain the authors of the report. This brings the gross incidence of type 1 diabetes in children aged under 15, in the wilaya of Algiers, to some 37.5 cases per 100,000 children during the year 2021.
Note that among boys, the report indicates that this incidence amounted to 37.6 cases per 100,000 compared to 37.4 per 100,000 among girls. Compared to age groups, the registry reports that the risk of being type 1 diabetic was 1.65 and 2.42 times higher in children aged 5 to 10 and those aged 10 to 15. only children aged 0 to 5 years. While a poor lifestyle constitutes an aggravating factor in the disease, particularly among young people, where does the responsibility of parents lie?
Heredity
First of all, it is important to emphasize that “neglect” of children is usually not intentional on the part of parents. However, specialists consider it essential that the latter establish clear rules concerning eating habits, for example. “They should not give sugar and salt to children under 2 years old and not buy soft drinks or industrial juice,” recommends Dr. Hakem.
According to her, a child who watches his parents drink soft drinks will logically want them too! “When children grow up, they will have to deal with the outside environment, namely friends, classmates who eat chips, cakes, chocolate, veggies, sweets and processed foods full of sugar!
This is why it is everyone’s responsibility to change their habits,” reiterates Dr Hakem. Furthermore, and according to the conclusions of the report, 69.8% of new cases of type 1 diabetes had at least one diabetic parent in the family, in other words: the father, the mother, the brother, the sister, the uncle or the sick aunt, grandfather, grandmother or first cousin.
As for the most frequent circumstances of discovery of type 1 diabetes in children, in the wilaya of Algiers in 2021, we find initial ketosis without ketoacidosis in 56.1% of cases, followed by polyuro-syndrome. polydypsic (29.9%) then ketoacidosis with or without neurological signs in 23.4% of cases.
And in order to better combat the disease, the specialist ensures that prevention and early detection are solutions. “For screening, it’s very simple. All you need to do is take a blood test, preferably a fasting blood sugar level associated with a glycated hemoglobin level, for patients over 40, those who have a family history of diabetes, obese or overweight people but also for women who have had gestational diabetes,” lists the specialist.
“And to try to avoid or delay the onset of diabetes as much as possible, because there are also genetic factors, we must change our lifestyle and eating habits. You must adopt a Mediterranean diet, low in saturated fats, low in sugar, avoid processed foods and practice regular physical activity,” she concludes.
