60% of Taiwan’s type 1 diabetes patients are children and adolescents
台灣60%的第1型糖尿病患者是兒童和青少年。
| TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Around 60% of Taiwan’s roughly 12,000 people with type 1 diabetes are children and adolescents, three diabetes groups said at a joint press conference Thursday.
The Diabetes Association, the Taiwanese Association of Diabetes Educators, and the Formosan Diabetes Care Foundation said roughly 380 new cases are diagnosed each year. Most appear between ages 10 and 14, though cases in children under 10 are increasing, according to CNA. Tung Yi-ching (童怡靖) of National Taiwan University Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics said type 1 diabetes shares symptoms with type 2 diabetes, including excessive eating, drinking, urination, and weight loss. About 70% of patients have diabetic ketoacidosis when first diagnosed, a serious condition that can cause cerebral edema or death. More than 30% have experienced severe hypoglycemia, with younger children facing higher risks of complications. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unclear. Experts say it likely involves a mix of genetic factors, environmental triggers, and autoimmune responses, according to Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. The immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, reducing insulin secretion. Environmental triggers may include viral infections, such as enterovirus or coxsackievirus, and early exposure to cow’s milk. Research on these triggers is ongoing. Taiwan’s National Health Insurance covers insulin therapy, four daily blood glucose checks, and up to two continuous glucose monitoring sessions per year. Insulin pumps and infusion systems are not yet reimbursed. Tung expressed hope these technologies will be included in future coverage to bring Taiwan’s diabetes care closer to international standards. |
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| Charlotte Lee Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2025-11-13 |
