Diabetes Dosing: Count Carbs, Save Lives!

Kanchi Kamakoti CHILDS Trust Hospital is launching a crucial education program focused on "carbohydrate counting" for families of children with type-1 diabetes. The initiative aims to enable more precise insulin dosing based on a child's dietary intake, moving away from arbitrary dose calculations. This aligns with World Diabetes Day and includes interactive sessions for children and their families.

Expert guidance will involve teaching families to calculate carbohydrates in various foods, like distinguishing carb content in idlis versus greens or eggs. This method allows for adjusted insulin doses, reducing them for low-carb meals and increasing them for high-carb foods. The hospital also plans to discuss advanced tools like insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitoring.

Medical professionals note that early diagnosis of juvenile diabetes can be difficult. Often, children are only brought to emergency care with severe symptoms such as vomiting and rapid breathing, highlighting the need for greater awareness and proactive management strategies.