Insulin Pumps Installed for Children with Type 1 Diabetes at Tanda Medical College
RPGMC Kangra now treating 140 young patients; new devices reduce daily injections and improve disease management.
Type 1 Diabetes is increasingly being reported among children in Himachal Pradesh, with 140 such patients already registered at the Pediatric Endocrine Clinic in the Department of Pediatrics at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC), Tanda.
Eight children have been selected for advanced treatment with insulin pumps, each costing nearly Rs. 3 lakh, which were successfully installed at the institution yesterday.
Dr. Milap Sharma, Principal of RPGMC and a pediatrician, told UNI today that Type 1 Diabetes in children is an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, leading to insulin deficiency and life-threatening complications if not managed properly.
Head of Pediatrics, Dr. Seema Sharma, informed that 140 children suffering from the disease, belonging to districts including Chamba, Kullu, Mandi, Hamirpur, Una, Kangra, and even Pathankot (Punjab), are receiving treatment at the centre.
Dr. Atul Gupta, Pediatric Endocrinologist at DRPGM College Tanda and the country’s first DM in Pediatric Endocrinology from PGIMER Chandigarh, told UNI that Type 1 Diabetes can occur in children as young as six months up to 18 years of age.
He warned that untreated cases may lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition.
He added that while treatment so far has relied on insulin injections, the introduction of insulin pumps is a significant advancement, reducing daily injections and improving disease control.
Dr. Gupta further said that until 2022, most critical cases had to be referred to higher centres outside Himachal.
However, since the establishment of the Pediatric Endocrine Clinic at DRPGMC three years ago, timely interventions have reduced life-threatening complications.
The provision of insulin pumps has been made possible through the Government of India, in coordination with the Himachal Pradesh Government and the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Shimla.
The devices were installed after proper training of children and their parents.
Parents of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Himachal Pradesh Government and the DRPGMC team comprising of Dr. Milap Sharma, Principal, Dr. Seema Sharma HoD and Dr. Atul Gupta for providing international-level treatment facilities in Kangra, which they said would help reduce complications and improve the quality of life of children living with Type 1 Diabetes.