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This report discusses the obstacles faced in providing optimal care for diabetic children in Palestine, including political, national, and psychosocial barriers. It suggests establishing specialized clinics, training healthcare professionals, and implementing guidelines to improve care.
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Obstacles of optimum care for diabetic children in Palestine Prepared by Dr.Intisar Al-Alem November 2008
What is Type 1 DM ? • Type 1 DM (T1DM) is used to denote childhood diabetes associated with autoimmunity and absolute insulin deficiency • Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas makes so little insulin that the body can't use blood sugar for energy • Type 1 diabetes must be controlled with daily insulin shots
Management of Diabetic Children • Diabetic children should be offered an ongoing integrated package of care by a multidisciplinary paediatric diabetes care team (optimum care & reduction of complications) • Diabetic children and their families should be offered 24-hour access to advice from the diabetes care team.
Epidemiology of Type 1 DM • Globally, about 500,000 children under the age of 15 with T1DM • Every day 200 children develop T1DM • Every year, 70,000 children under the age of 15 develop T1DM • T1DM is increasing in children at a rate of 3% each year • T1DM is increasing fastest in pre-school children, at rate of 5% per year • In Palestine until now we havnt true statistics
Diabetic children in government PHC diabetic clinics , West Bank (2006)
Distribution of reported new registered cases of diabetic children in government PHC diabetic clinics , West Bank 2007
Distribution of reported new registered cases of diabetic children in government PHC diabetic clinics , West Bank 2007
Diabetic clinics in Palestine Specialized diabetic clinics began in 1987 • now there are 10 clinics one in each district & also many small clinics in villages (4 in Nablus, 9 in Jenin & 4 in Hebron) which are operating according to an organized program • These clinics provide medical services for about 20000 diabetic patients in the west bank • There is coordination between central clinic in the city ,those in the villages & also between diabetic clinic & governmental hospitals. • Diabetic children are followed-up with other diabetics
Obstacles of optimum care for diabetic children in Palestine • Political Obstacles • National Obstacles • Obstacles (MOH) • Psychosocial obstacles
Political Obstacles • Lack of communication between Gaza &west bank • Siege &check points make access to clinics difficult, especially for those who are living in far areas • Economic problems
National Obstacles • Lack of cooperation & coordinated between health providers • Lack of national treatment guidelines • Shortage of human and financial resources • Lack of important specialists • Lack of screening and early detection activities • There is no statistical information and studies to estimate the real side of the problem
Obstacles (MOH): • Until now there are no specialized clinics for care of diabetic children in MOH & those patients are followed-up among others • Shortage of well trained medical staff who provide care for diabetic children • Lack of some important specialties pediatric endocrinologists, vascular surgeons, ophthalmologists, podiatrists, chiropodists, health educators and dieticians • Trained physicians &nurses are not enough for this number of patients. • Because of work over load there is no enough time or space to provide appropriate health care or education
Obstacles (MOH): • Lack of materials, drugs and equipments necessary for proper management • Lack of Guidelines &protocols for management of diabetic children • Lack of educational & entertainment programs • Because of the lack of home visiting program, disabled patients deprived from proper health care, also follow-up after hospital discharge is lacking.
Psychosocial obstacles • Financial barriers (healthy food, gluco-strips, clinic visits) • Denial & non-adherence to therapy (insulin injections, snacks, home monitoring, diet, exercise ®ular visits to clinic) • Stigma like delay in marriage or reduced job opportunities • Lack of knowledge (family & school members)
Suggestion for optimum care of diabetic children • Establishment of special clinic • Training of physicians &nurses externally &locally • Training of new important specialties • Development &implementation of guidelines &protocols • Continuous education programs for patients & their relatives (families &teachers)