Childhood diabetes: Significant rise in Europe, more cases in girls in Greece

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in childhood diabetes in Europe, with many cases also occurring in Greece, with the majority of new cases occurring in girls.

Data from the past 30 years has found that some European countries are suffering more than others, with Greece's growth in the middle range. The researchers looked at the incidence of type 1 diabetes (that is, the number of new cases of the disease in a given period of time relative to the population likely to have it) in 32 European countries from 1994 to 2021. They analysed a total of 75 studies involving 219,331 people aged 0 to 14 years.

Scientists found that the incidence of type 1 diabetes has increased significantly, from 11 cases per 100,000 person-years between 1994 and 2003 to about 21 cases between 2013 and 2021.

Researchers have discovered significant differences between regions of EuropeWhile there is a clear upward trend in most European countries, particularly in the Nordic countries of Finland, Sweden and Norway, in some countries, such as the UK and Spain, the numbers appear to have stabilised.

From 1994 to 2003 lowest levels of insulin resistance due to type 1 diabetes were observed in Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, and the highest in Finland and Sweden. From 2004 to 2012, the lowest levels of insulin resistance were observed in Turkey and North Macedonia, and the highest in Finland and Sweden. Finally, from 2013 to 2022, a period for which data were available from 14 European countries, the lowest levels were observed in Romania and Turkey, and the highest in Finland and Ireland.

In Greece, an overall increase of 8.24 was recorded from 1994 to 2022, with incidence accelerating significantly in recent years, especially from 2013 to 2022, with the rate of change being higher in girls, who had lower rates than boys in the past.

However, across Europe, boys have slightly higher rates than girls. It has also been noted that The incidence rate increases with age, especially in the 10-14 age group.

The exact etiology of type 1 diabetes remains unknown, although research suggests that there may be a genetic predisposition. It has also been suggested other causes such as autoimmune processes, viruses, lifestyle or environmental factors such as dietIt has also been observed that higher per capita income or higher standard of living in northern countries may also influence the incidence of type 1 diabetes.

There are several possible explanations for this, the researchers say, including the fact that northern countries receive less UV radiation (aka sunlight), as several studies have shown that exposure to UV radiation may protect against diabetes.

Countries with high gross domestic product (GDP) have higher incidence of type 1 diabetes, researchers notethan in low-GDP countries, which can also be explained by the fact that diagnostic procedures are better in high-GDP countries (Europe and North America), while the decline in type 1 diabetes is observed in continents with low GDP and the largest child population (West Indies), where under-5 mortality due to infectious diseases is high.

Another notable development is the rise in new cases of type 1 diabetes in children worldwide following the Covid-19 pandemic.

This may be a result of the infection affecting the immunity of people vulnerable to the disease, or because the ability of health systems to detect the problem early and control it is reduced during a pandemic.

In any case, as the researchers note, efforts need to be made at the political level to promote healthy lifestyles and control the environment, risk factors underlying the immune system problems associated with this major public health problem.

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