Govt. issues guidelines on childhood diabetes care

4 MAY 2026

Integrating childhood diabetes care into the public health system, the Union Health Ministry has, for the first time, introduced a structured and standardised national framework for the screening, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of diabetes in children.
Releasing the Guidance Document on Diabetes Mellitus in Children recently, the Ministry said this aims to ensure universal diabetes screening of all children in India from birth to 18 years of age.
The initiative seeks to support early detection and promote the “4Ts” awareness framework — Toilet, Thirsty, Tired, and Thinner — enabling parents, teachers and caregivers to recognise early warning signs of Type 1 diabetes.
“Suspected cases will undergo immediate blood glucose testing, followed by timely referral to district-level health facilities for confirmatory diagnosis and treatment,” a senior Health Ministry official said.
He added that a key feature of the framework is the provision of a comprehensive, free-of-cost care package at public health facilities.
This includes screening, diagnostic services, lifelong insulin therapy, monitoring devices such as glucometers and test strips, and regular follow-up care.
The approach is designed to reduce financial burden and ensure uninterrupted treatment for children diagnosed with diabetes.

Diabetes

According to the World Health Organization, diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar.
Hyperglycaemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.