Finland leads in global childhood diabetes type-1 cases new study reveals possible causes

The number of children with type 1 diabetes has risen nearly 40% globally since 1990 with a recent study highlighting that one of the highest income-countries, Finland, has reported the greatest incidences. 

According to the study published in JAMA Pediatrics, Finland had the highest global incidence, with nearly 70 cases per 100,000 children under 15. As Euronews reported, over 222,000 children under 15 in the country had the chronic autoimmune condition in 2021, requiring daily insulin management.

Type 1 is not preventable through diet or exercise unlike type 2 diabetes. Despite the increase in cases, mortality rates have declined to 4,280 deaths in 2021, reflecting advancements in care. Global incidence of childhood diabetes rose slightly between 2019 and 2021, from 10.9 to 11.1 per 100,000 children, with Eastern Europe experiencing the largest increase but still maintaining rates below 10 per 100,000.

High-income countries generally report more cases, likely due to better diagnostic access. Environmental factors, such as reduced sunlight exposure in northern regions, may also contribute by affecting immune responses. Other European countries with rates exceeding 30 per 100,000 include Malta, Ireland, Italy, Norway, and Spain.

South Asia, particularly India, recorded the most cases overall, while eastern sub-Saharan Africa had the highest death rates. The burden remains significant in low- and middle-income countries, emphasizing the need for early interventions like genetic risk monitoring and emerging immunotherapy treatments, researchers suggest.

By Nazrin Sadigova