A child receives insulin treatment from a nurse at Kantha Bopha Hospital in Siem Reap province. Supplied
Kantha Bopha Hospital announced that nearly 700 children have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes across its branches in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap province over the past 30 plus years.
According to the hospital, the children are between the ages of four and 14, with the highest incidence occurring among those aged 10 to 14. Out of the 698 patients, 309 are currently receiving treatment at the hospital’s Siem Reap location.
The news about the prevalence of type 1 diabetes in children has caused concern among the public.
However, Dr. Yey Channa, director of Jayavarman VII Hospital (part of Kantha Bopha, Siem Reap), told The Post: “This total of 698 children with type 1 diabetes includes cases recorded since the opening of Kantha Bopha Hospitals in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap in 1992. The number is not surprising or indicative of a dramatic increase."
“Do not confuse the public. These [children] have been treated and monitored … since 1992. On average, we see one or two new cases per month,” said Channa.
Dr. Khun Leang Chhun, deputy director of Jayavarman VII, explained that type 1 diabetes in children is caused by the immune system destroying beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
He said factors contributing to the development of the disease include exposure to certain viruses (such as those causing rubella), consumption of certain types of milk and genetic factors like specific human leukocyte antigens (HLA) such as DR2, DR3 and DR4.
“There is no vaccine for type 1 diabetes,” said Chhun. “We help prevent some of the factors that can lead to diabetes, such as avoiding milk powder that could trigger the disease and preventing certain viral infections.”
A doctor consults with a family at Kantha Bopha Hospital in Siem Reap province. Supplied
He also confirmed that the condition is not caused by a child's excessive sugar intake. However, once a child is diagnosed with diabetes and begins insulin treatment, their diet should be carefully monitored, avoiding excessive sugar or fat as recommended by a physician.
“When a child is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, the only treatment is insulin, which is a hormone produced by the pancreas,” he explained. “Children with diabetes require lifelong insulin injections.”
In addition to the insulin treatment, parents need to regularly check their child's blood sugar levels and understand the disease to provide ongoing care.
After treatment at the hospital, parents and guardians are instructed on how to manage their child’s condition, including conducting sugar tests and administering insulin injections, and receive free medical kits and medications for routine home treatment.
“One type of insulin is injected twice daily, in the morning and evening, while another type is injected four times daily: in the morning, at noon, in the evening and at 9 PM, with a sugar level check each time," he said.
Chhun cautioned that administering too much insulin can cause a child to faint immediately.
A 2023 post on Jayavarman VII’s social media page highlighted the story of a 12-year-old girl with type 1 diabetes who missed her long-term treatment appointments.
According to the post, she suffered severe complications as a result, including unconsciousness, ulcers, back pain and significant kidney damage. However, a team of emergency doctors at the hospital were able to successfully treat her.
