Qatar: Alarming rise in the rates of children with type 1 diabetes

Source: Hamad Medical Corporation

Official statistics released by Hamad Medical Corporation revealed that around 90% of recorded diabetes cases
among children in Qatar are due to type 1 diabetes, reflecting a noticeable rise in the prevalence of this type among younger age
groups, amid growing interest from health authorities in awareness and early detection
programs. Specialists say this figure does not mean that 90% of Qatar’s children have diabetes,
rather, the vast majority of children with diabetes have type 1, an autoimmune disease in which
the immune system attacks the pancreatic cells responsible for producing insulin.

The Executive
Director of the Qatar Diabetes Association, Dr Abdullah Al Hamaq, announced at the end
of last year an alarming rise in the number of children with diabetes in the State of Qatar,
stressing that “the phenomenon is no longer just a health issue, but has become a national challenge that requires
swift action and comprehensive cooperation between health and educational institutions and the community,”
noting in press statements that more than 3,000 children are receiving medical follow-up at
Sidra Medicine, in addition to around 500 children at Hamad Medical Corporation, explaining that “these
figures reflect the scale of the challenges facing the health system in Qatar, especially with regard to type 1
diabetes.” “.

Al Hamaq explained
that the increase in cases is not limited to Qatar alone, but is part of a global trend.
However, local factors such as low physical activity, increased consumption of fast food
and sugary drinks, and limited nutrition awareness have contributed to worsening the phenomenon, especially with
the growing spread of type 2 diabetes cases among children as well. .

Endocrinology and diabetes consultant Dr Omar Dahmous told “Al-Araby Al-Jadeed” that “diabetes in children is divided into several types. Type 1 diabetes, linked to autoimmune diseases, is the most common among children, accounting for about 90% of cases, followed by type 2 diabetes, often associated with obesity and an unhealthy lifestyle, alongside rare types such as neonatal diabetes and maturity-onset diabetes of the young.” He added that “type 1 diabetes occurs as a result of immune destruction of beta cells in the pancreas, leading to a complete deficiency in the body’s natural insulin production; therefore, those with this type rely on external insulin to stay alive.” “.

Dahmous added that the destruction of pancreatic cells is usually faster in infants, young children, and adolescents, and the disease often first appears as diabetic ketoacidosis. Meanwhile, some patients may retain part of pancreatic function for a long time, delaying the onset of the full symptoms of the disease for years. He noted that “people with type 1 diabetes may show no signs of autoimmunity, but they are at risk of ketoacidosis episodes at diagnosis,” explaining that “around 10% may show varying degrees of insulin deficiency and dependence during those periods; this type is called idiopathic diabetes, is common among people of African and Asian origin, and has a strong genetic association.” “.

The endocrinology and diabetes consultant said that the clinical picture of type 1 and type 2 diabetes overlaps in some symptoms, such as frequent hunger and thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, slow wound healing. However, type 1 symptoms appear and progress rapidly over a few weeks or months, while type 2 symptoms develop slowly over years, and the patient may not show any symptoms until complications from high blood sugar begin to occur. .

Dahmous points to what he described as a notable development in the prevention of type 1 diabetes, as new drugs capable of preventing and delaying the onset of the disease have been approved, most notably (Teplizumab),
the first drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to prevent stage 3 type 1 diabetes. It targets adults and children aged 8 years and older who have stage 2 diabetes (presence of antibodies without clinical symptoms). The drug works by disabling immune cells that attack pancreatic cells, which delays the onset of the disease by an average of about two years .

The State of Qatar is witnessing a noticeable rise in diabetes incidence rates, placing it among the countries with the highest prevalence globally, particularly type 2 diabetes, amid medical warnings about the growing lifestyle-related factors associated with modern living.