Centre Unveils National Framework for Childhood Diabetes Care
New Delhi: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday released a national framework for the screening, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of childhood diabetes; This marks the first structured approach to integrating this type of care into the public health system.
The document titled “Guidance Document on Diabetes Mellitus in Children” was published at the National Summit on Best Practices in Public Health Service Delivery. The framework recommends universal screening of children from birth to age 18 through community and school platforms for early detection. Suspected cases will be tested for blood sugar and referred to district health facilities for confirmation and treatment.
The ministry also announced that Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) has been expanded to include screening for mental health issues and non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension under the revised guidelines.
Under RBSK 2.0, the program’s existing “4D” approach (birth defects, diseases, deficiencies, and developmental delays) has been expanded to include behavioral disorders, mental health conditions, and lifestyle-related diseases. The updated guidelines ensure continuity of preventive, encouraging and curative care for children up to age 18, with an emphasis on digital monitoring and continuity of care.
The ministry said screening will continue through mobile medical teams at Anganwadi centers and schools to ensure wider coverage.
The childhood diabetes framework includes a free care package in public health facilities covering screening, diagnosis, insulin therapy, glucose measurements, test strips and follow-up care, aiming to reduce the financial burden on families.
It also outlines a referral system that links community-level screening to area hospitals and medical schools for ongoing management.
To support early detection, the document promotes Toilet, Thirsty, Tired and Weak, a “4T” awareness framework for recognizing type 1 diabetes symptoms, as well as education for families and caregivers on insulin use, glucose monitoring and emergency response.
