Mortality amongst children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa: The case study of the Changing Diabetes in Children program in Cameroon.

INTRODUCTION: Type 1 diabetes in Africa has been associated with high mortality attributed mainly to poor insulin access. Free insulin provision programs for people with type 1 diabetes have been introduced across Africa recently. We aimed to determine the mortality rate and associated factors in a cohort of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes who receive free insulin treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis using the Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC) medical records in Cameroon between 2011 and 2015. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate was 33.0 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 25.2-43.2). Most deaths (71.7%) occurred outside of the hospital setting, and the cause of death was known only in 13/53 (24.5%). Mortality was substantially higher in CDiC participants followed up in regional clinics compared to the main urban CDiC clinic in Yaounde; 41 per 1000 years (95% CI 30.8-56.0) versus 17.5 per 1000 years (95% CI 9.4-32.5), and in those with no formal education compared to those who had some level of education; 68.0 per 1000 years (95% CI 45.1-102.2) versus 23.6 per 1000 years (95% CI 16.5-33.8). In Cox proportional multivariable analysis, urban place of care (HR = 0.23, 95% CI 0.09-0.57; p = 0.002) and formal education (HR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.22-0.79; p = 0.007) were independently associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Despite free insulin provision, mortality remains high in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes in Cameroon and is substantially higher in rural settings and those with no formal education.

Survival of children and youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus in Tanzania.

INTRODUCTION: Survival from type 1 diabetes Mellitus is low in lower-income countries with underdeveloped health systems. Support programs from partners like life for a child (LFAC) and changing diabetes in children (CDiC) were implemented in Tanzania in 2005 to provide diabetes care to children and youth. No evaluation of survival has been done since their implementation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the survival of children and youth living with diabetes mellitus (CYLDM) in Tanzania. METHODS: A retrospective data collection from 39 clinics of CYLDM was done by extracting data from the diabetes registry between 1991 and 2019. Three cohort were analyzed (1) Cohort 1991-2004 (pre-implementation), (2) Cohort 2005-2010 (during implementation), and (3) 2011-2019 (after the implementation of LFAC/CDiC). Data were analyzed using STATA-version 14. RESULTS: A total of 3822 data of CYLDM were extracted, mean age at diagnosis was 13.8 (±5) years. Approximately fifty-one percent (50.8%) were male. The total observation time was 28 years, and the Median duration of diabetes of 5 (IQR2, 8) years. Total death was 95 (3%), with a mean age at death of 17.7 (SD 4.7) years. The last cohort (2011-2019) had more diagnosis 2353 (72.7%), as compared to the <2005 cohort with only 163(5%). The survival improved from 59% before 2005 to 69% in the last cohort (2011-2019). CONCLUSION: The implemented programs have facilitated the diagnosis and retention of CYLDM in the health care system. In doing so, it has also increased the survival probability in Tanzania compared to the early 90s.

Creativity and diabetes education: Essentiality, impact and way forward.

The changing diabetes in children (CDiC) program is a unique program aimed at children suffering from type 1 diabetes. The whole focus of CDiC is to provide comprehensive care including diabetes education. Various innovative and creative diabetes educational materials have been developed, which makes learning fun. Lot of diabetes camps are held at CDiC, focusing on diabetes education, experience sharing and fun activities. CDiC faces many challenges in an effort to cater to the needs of most deserving children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) throughout the country, to provide comprehensive care including self-sufficiency, to serve children for as long as possible and to ultimately have better outcomes for all children with T1DM. The CDiC program aims to make the child more positive, secure and hopeful and initiate and strive for comprehensive diabetes care for the economically underprivileged children with T1DM.

Unique case from real life practice.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a form of diabetes mellitus that results from the autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. For economically backward children, understanding and dealing with the disorder can be quite challenging. Here, I describe a female with T1DM and how her enrolment into the changing diabetes in children program brought about a positive change for her. Financial, medical and psychological support at the right time will help these children to gain independence.

Type 1 diabetes care updates: Tanzania.

Tanzania is located in east Africa with a population of 45 million. The country's population is growing at 2.5% annually. The International Diabetes Federation Child Sponsorship Program was launched in Tanzania in 2005. The number of type 1 diabetes mellitus children enrolled in the changing diabetes in children program in Tanzania has augmented from almost below 50 in 2005 to over 1200 in 2014. The country had an overall trend of HbA1c value of 14% in 2005 while the same has reduced over the years to 10% in 2012-13. The program has been able to reduce the proportion of patients with HbA1c values of 11-14%; from 71.9% in 2008 to 49.8% in 2012-13. The challenges, which CDiC faces are misdiagnosis, low public awareness, and stigma especially in the reproductive age/adolescent groups.

Trials and tribulations of managing type 1 diabetes.

Effective type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) management tools are education, empowerment, insulin, and diet control. Exercise should be of moderate intensity so as to avoid hypoglycaemia. It is prudent to ensure that the required insulin levels are achieved in all children in order to manage the disorder well. The total daily dose of insulin may be 0.6-1.0 u/kg body weight, and it may be 2/3, 1/3 for split mixed insulin, and 50/50 for multiple subcutaneous injections. The dosages for the pump also vary from child to child. Basal bolus regimen is important and necessary in all T1DM children. It is not necessary to use all types of insulin analogs in all T1DM children, and the decision should depend on cost and delivery limiting factors. The advantages of using analogues are that some of these exhibit low hypoglycemic events (especially nocturnal events with basal insulin) and a few offer flexibility of administration to patients (most prandial analogs and some basal analogs).

Treatment essentials and training for health care providers.

The lack of awareness among health care providers (HCPs) is one of the biggest challenges for the management of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in India. Major challenges faced by HCPs include lack of awareness about the disease among general physicians and inadequately trained staff to deal with children with T1DM. The changing diabetes in children (CDiC) program is helping in overcoming these barriers faced by HCPs. CDiC provides treatment, monitoring tools, and education to children affected with T1DM and has been instrumental is developing various education and awareness tools.

Myths about type 1 diabetes: Awareness and education.

Not all healthcare professionals (HCPs) are aware of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and various myths still exist in the society and among HCPs. The medical challenge in treating T1DM is the confusion between T1DM and T2DM and its management, which is very common and is observed with both general practitioners and parents of children with diabetes. There are multiple medical and social myths associated with diabetes, especially T1DM, prevalent in society. Diabetes management requires support and collaboration from family, school and society, which is sometimes difficult, as they are more discouraging than positive. The launch of the Changing Diabetes in Children program in India has created a lot of awareness and is helping patients and their parents understand the disease.