Murang’a County to manage diabetes among teens

Murang’a ,

Monday, November 27, 2023

KNA by Purity Mugo/Anita Omwenga

Murang’a County’s Department of Health has proposed the launch of a specialized clinic to support children living with type one diabetes as they transition from pediatrics to adulthood.

Speaking to KNA in Murang’a Town, the county coordinator for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Dr. Christine Kerubo, said the county is planning to launch a transition clinic for patients of type one diabetes from the age of 13 noting that teenagers have a hard time coping with disease.

Kerubo said that she believes that peer support which has proven effective even with the older generation will help the teenagers adhere to medication.

“Knowing that they are not alone will help them build acceptance which leads to better controlled sugar levels in the body as they will adhere to medication,” she stated.

She noted that the clinic is a bid to sensitize the public and support diabetes patients and will also bring parents and caregivers of patients with type one diabetes for support.

 “Dealing with an illness such as diabetes also affects parents and therefore they also need support so that they, in turn, support their children.” She said. 

The doctor noted that parents are sometimes in distress as their children who have been diagnosed with diabetes are often in denial and sometimes do not adhere to medication and said they will also benefit from the clinic.

“Children and especially teenagers have a hard time accepting such a chronic illness and may sometimes skip prescriptions or even discontinue medication,” Kerubo said. 

“We have seen children being rushed to hospital in critical condition when they don’t adhere to their medication and the proposed clinic will aim to reduce such incidents.” She added.

She observed that although young people living with diabetes get their medication free of charge at all public health facilities, they still need social and emotional support.

 “The children have access to short-acting insulin and long-acting insulin for free up to 24 years of age.” She noted. 

 “We will therefore be setting up a cohort of young diabetes patients who will be coming to the clinic on set days especially during school holidays so that they can interact and encourage each other.” She added. 

Meanwhile, the NCD coordinator urged the general public to get tested for type two diabetes so that they can adjust their lifestyles accordingly in order to avoid any complications.

Courtesy; KNA