Anti-diabetes campaign among children launched in Scotland

A campaign has been launched in Scotland to encourage warning signs of type 1 diabetes to be spotted early in children, a media report said on Sunday.

Early diagnosis in children can prevent a possibly life-threatening condition, called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) which happens when a severe lack of insulin leads to the body starting to break down other tissue as an alternative energy source to glucose, BBC reported.

According to health officials, about one in four children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes already have DKA.

Scotland has the fifth highest incidence of type 1 diabetes globally and this is increasing by about 3 percent annually in common with most western countries.

The condition is not associated with lifestyle factors and the reasons why rates are increasing are not fully understood.

"Unfortunately, there are still children who are seriously ill by the time they are diagnosed with onset type 1 diabetes," Public Health Minister Maureen Watt said.

"This causes unnecessary suffering to them and to their families. By spotting the early warning signs and getting tested, all this can be avoided," the minister added.