Dr Harriet Dufie Morgan, a member of the Endocrine Society of Ghana and an endocrinology fellow in training, called on parents and teachers to watch for changes in children’s urination patterns, excessive thirst and unexplained weight loss as possible early signs of Type 1 diabetes.
Speaking at a media engagement organised with support from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to mark World Diabetes Day, the specialist warned that failure to recognise the symptoms could expose affected children to serious, life‑threatening complications.
Dr Morgan identified frequent urination, excessive thirst, unusual tiredness and unexplained weight loss as key warning signs. She added that parents should seek medical attention when children who have previously stopped bedwetting suddenly begin doing so again, and that teachers should be alert to pupils who frequently request permission to leave the classroom to urinate.
She explained that Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system attacks insulin‑producing cells in the pancreas, leaving the body unable to produce sufficient insulin. The condition is not caused by lifestyle choices and cannot be prevented through changes in diet or exercise.
Undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication that may present through vomiting, abdominal pain and severe dehydration. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential, she stressed, noting that people living with Type 1 diabetes require insulin to survive.
