In a major step towards strengthening paediatric healthcare services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released the “Guidance Document on Diabetes Mellitus in Children” during the National Summit on Best Practices in Public Healthcare Service Delivery.

The guidance document establishes, for the first time, a structured national framework for the screening, diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of childhood diabetes in India. The initiative places India among a select group of countries that have integrated childhood diabetes care into the public healthcare system.

The framework proposes universal screening for children from birth to 18 years through community and school-based platforms. Suspected cases will undergo immediate blood glucose testing followed by referral to district-level health facilities for confirmatory diagnosis and treatment.

A key component of the initiative is the provision of a comprehensive free-of-cost care package through public health facilities. This includes screening, diagnostic services, lifelong insulin therapy, glucometers, test strips, and regular follow-up care to reduce the financial burden on families and ensure uninterrupted treatment.

The document also introduces an integrated continuum of care that connects community-level screening with district hospitals and advanced treatment centres at medical colleges, ensuring seamless long-term disease management.

To improve awareness and early diagnosis, the framework promotes the “4Ts” warning signs of Type 1 Diabetes — Toilet, Thirsty, Tired and Thinner — aimed at helping parents, teachers and caregivers identify symptoms at an early stage.

Alongside clinical protocols, the guidance document focuses on family and caregiver empowerment through training on insulin administration, blood glucose monitoring, emergency response and day-to-day disease management. It also outlines evidence-based treatment guidelines, monitoring schedules and preventive protocols to minimise complications.

The initiative is expected to improve early diagnosis, reduce mortality and complications associated with childhood diabetes, and strengthen India’s capacity to manage non-communicable diseases among children through the public healthcare system.