Govt Releases Guidance Document on Diabetes Mellitus in Children

New Delhi, May 03
The government has released the Guidance Document on Diabetes Mellitus in Children. The Document was released at the recently concluded National Summit on Best Practices in Public Healthcare Service Delivery.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that the Guidance Document establishes a structured and standardized national framework for the screening, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of childhood diabetes for the first time. It added that the initiative positions India among a select group of countries that have integrated childhood diabetes care into the public health system. It is also expected to deliver significant public health benefits, including reduced mortality due to early detection, prevention of complications, and improved quality of life for affected children.

The new guidelines aim to ensure universal health screening for all children from birth to 18 years, using both community and school platforms for early detection. Suspected cases will be given immediate blood glucose tests and referred quickly to district health facilities for confirmation and treatment.

A key highlight is the provision of a free, comprehensive care package at public health centres. This includes screening, diagnostic services, lifelong insulin therapy, glucometers, test strips, and regular follow-up care. The framework also introduces an integrated continuum of care, linking community-level screening with district hospital-based management and advanced care at medical colleges.

Alongside medical care, the guidelines emphasizes on empowering and training families and caregivers in insulin use, blood sugar monitoring, emergency response, and daily disease management, ensuring better long-term care for children