Coimbatore Medical College Hospital sets up Type 1 Diabetes Centre for children
Type 1 Diabetes
Coimbatore Medical College Hospital has launched a specialised Type 1 diabetes care centre for children, offering free diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and screening services to benefit over 400 young patients in the district.
Coimbatore: In a significant step towards strengthening pediatric diabetes care, the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) has inaugurated a specialised Type 1 diabetes care centre dedicated to children.
The centre has been established by the Department of Paediatrics at CMCH in collaboration with Coimbatore-based NGO Idhayangal Charitable Trust under the National Health Mission, with sponsorship from Rasi Seeds.
Speaking at the inauguration, CMCH Dean Dr M. Geethanjali said over 400 children in the district have been identified with Type 1 diabetes and highlighted the importance of ensuring appropriate treatment for the condition. She noted that the hospital has already been providing care through its Department of Paediatrics, and said the newly launched centre would further strengthen these services. She also urged parents to utilise the facility without hesitation or stigma.
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Dr Krishnan Swaminathan, Managing Trustee of Idhayangal Charitable Trust, said specialised Type 1 diabetes centres operating across Tamil Nadu have contributed to a 95% reduction in emergency admissions related to the disease. According to him, early diagnosis, regular monitoring and structured follow-up have also helped lower the risk of serious complications, including diabetic retinopathy and kidney failure, reports The New Indian Express.
He stated that the CMCH facility is the 22nd specialised Type 1 diabetes centre established in a government hospital in Tamil Nadu through the National Health Mission, with 14 such centres opened during the past year alone.
Located near the Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) building, the centre has been equipped to provide diagnosis and treatment without prolonged waiting periods. A doctor and a diabetes educator will be available to support patients.
Dr Swaminathan also recalled that the programme at CMCH began in 2020 with 40 children and has since expanded to serve 4,032 children across Tamil Nadu. He said timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment enable children with Type 1 diabetes to lead normal lives.
The facility will provide free needles, insulin pen cartridges, glucometers and test strips. It is also equipped with HbA1c testing facilities for long-term blood sugar assessment and a fundus camera for early, non-invasive screening of diabetic retinopathy.
