Type 2 diabetes rising rapidly among Ghanaian children – KATH doctors sound alarm

Health specialists at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have raised concerns over the growing incidence of diabetes among children in Ghana, warning that Type 2 diabetes—once regarded as an adult disease—is becoming increasingly common among young people due to unhealthy lifestyles and poor eating habits.

A new study conducted by doctors at KATH has revealed that Type 2 diabetes now accounts for approximately 15 per cent of childhood diabetes cases in Ghana, representing a significant increase from the estimated 5 per cent recorded in previous years.

Medical experts say the worrying trend is being fuelled by unhealthy diets, excessive consumption of sugary drinks and processed foods, physical inactivity, rising childhood obesity and delayed diagnosis, all of which threaten to create a major public health challenge if urgent preventive measures are not implemented.

The findings come as KATH reports a dramatic increase in the number of children receiving treatment for diabetes since the establishment of its specialised diabetes clinic more than a decade ago.

According to Professor Emmanuel Ameyaw, a Paediatric Endocrinologist and Child Health Specialist at KATH, the hospital’s diabetes clinic had only one child under treatment when it was established in 2012.

Today, the clinic provides care for more than 400 children living with diabetes, a figure he believes represents only a small proportion of children affected nationwide.

“We now have over 400 children living with diabetes, so it is no longer uncommon. There are many more children out there living with the disease, and we need to find them,” Professor Ameyaw stated.

He explained that while Type 1 diabetes remains the most common form diagnosed among children, the rapid rise in Type 2 diabetes is particularly alarming because the disease has historically been associated with adults.

“Our recent study found that about 15 per cent of children with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes, which tells us the condition is becoming more common among children,” he said.

Professor Ameyaw attributed the increase to changing lifestyles, particularly the growing consumption of unhealthy foods, obesity and reduced physical activity among children.

He noted that in many Ghanaian communities, overweight children are often viewed as healthy and well-fed, despite obesity being a major risk factor for diabetes and several other chronic diseases.

“In Ghana, when a child gains a lot of weight, it is often seen as a sign of good health. But obesity is linked to many diseases, including insulin resistance. Children should eat well, but they should also eat healthily,” he advised.

The increasing prevalence of childhood diabetes is reflected in the experiences of patients like Akosua Yeboah—not her real name—who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes after months of uncertainty.

She first developed symptoms at the age of 14, including excessive thirst, frequent urination and unexplained weight loss. Initially, she was treated for a urinary tract infection before doctors eventually identified diabetes as the underlying condition.

“I thought I wasn’t going to live for long. I thought I was going to die. I knew nothing about Type 1 diabetes. The only thing I knew was that diabetes affected adults,” she recounted.

Another patient, 27-year-old Gideon Tettey, also developed Type 1 diabetes during his teenage years. He said he recognised the warning signs after listening to a health programme on radio, but misconceptions surrounding the disease complicated his situation.

According to him, dramatic weight loss and a swollen abdomen led some people to believe he had been spiritually cursed rather than suffering from a medical condition.

“I was losing weight, my stomach became swollen, and some people believed I had been cursed. Since neither of my parents had diabetes, my family was frightened and gave me herbal medicine because they believed it could cure me,” he recalled.

Professor Ameyaw stressed that misconceptions and delayed diagnosis continue to worsen outcomes for many children living with diabetes, underscoring the need for greater public education and early screening.

He also called on government to provide stronger support for children living with diabetes by improving access to insulin and other essential medicines.

According to him, many children currently depend largely on assistance from international donor organisations despite insulin being covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

“The support we currently receive for children with Type 1 diabetes comes mainly from foreign donors. Although insulin is covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme, it is often unavailable in many hospitals. Government support remains minimal,” he lamented.

Nana Prekoh Eric

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