Understand, Prevent and Manage Diabetes!

Diabetes is a health condition where your body cannot properly process glucose (sugar) for energy, leading to high levels of sugar in your blood. Diabetes can affect both children and adults. There are 3 main types of diabetes.

• Type 1 Diabetes: An autoimmune condition where the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, meaning the body makes no insulin.
• Type 2 Diabetes: A condition where the body either does not make enough insulin or cannot use it properly, known as insulin resistance.
• Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM): A temporary form of diabetes that develops in some women during pregnancy.

While Type 1 Diabetes cannot be prevented, Type 2 Diabetes and GDM are highly preventable and treatable with the right care management and lifestyle decisions. You are at higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes or GDM if your Body Mass Index (BMI) readings are considered overweight or obese.

Type 1 Diabetes

Typically diagnosed through symptoms, as routine screenings are not available. These include increased thirst and urination, bed‑wetting, tiredness, blurred vision and unexplained weight loss. Many children are first diagnosed during diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a medical emergency with symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, deep/rapid breathing, fruity breath, and drowsiness. Seek immediate care if these symptoms present together.

Risk factors include:

• Family history of Type 1 Diabetes
• Environmental triggers (e.g. Exposure to specific viruses such as enteroviruses)

Type 2 Diabetes

While Type 1 Diabetes is the more common type of diabetes seen in young children, Type 2 Diabetes is increasingly seen in adolescents today and often identified through initial obesity screenings and symptoms similar to that of Type 1 Diabetes.

Risk factors include:

• Family history of diabetes
• Overweight or obese (BMI above 90^th percentile)
• Poor dietary habits
• Lack of physical activity

Gestational Diabetes

Occurs when blood sugar levels become higher than normal during pregnancy, as hormonal changes in pregnancy can affect how the body uses insulin. Usually detected through routine screening between 24–28 weeks of pregnancy. Most women may not present obvious symptoms, which is why screening during pregnancy is important.

The risk factors for GDM include:

• Family history of diabetes
• GDM in previous pregnancies
• Overweight or obese before pregnancy (BMI over 23)
• History of delivery large baby (weighing over 4kg)
• Age of 35 years and above

How is Diabetes Managed?

Technology plays an important role in improving health and well-being for people with diabetes.

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs)

• Wearable medical device that tracks glucose levels in real-time, allowing for convenient, accurate readings and remote monitoring.
• Provides a better understanding on how actions such as dietary choices and exercise impacts metabolism, allowing for adjustments.

Smart insulin delivery

• Technology that automatically adjusts, tabulates, and/or delivers insulin doses with precise calculations.
• This includes Automated Insulin Delivery (AID) systems for Type 1 management, which connects CGM, an insulin pump, and an algorithm to automatically deliver insulin to the body like a healthy pancreas.
• There are also smart insulin pens, which are manual injection tools enabled with Bluetooth or NFC technology to track, calculate, and log doses digitally.

Health‑tracking applications

• Carbohydrate and glucose tracking applications help to support daily self-management.

Whether managing diabetes for yourself, your child, or during pregnancy, remember that you are not alone. Modern medical technology, early screening, and healthy lifestyle adaptations can empower your family to live a full, active, and healthy life.

How to Calculate and Interpret BMI:

BMI =  Weight(kg) / Height(m) x Height(m)

Example: Rachel is 165cm and weighs 60kg. Her BMI is  60/1.65*1.65 = 22.04

While BMI is calculated the same way for adults and children, it is interpretated differently. For children, age and gender are considered during interpretation, with BMIs plotted on percentile charts.

BMI Interpretation for Adults

Source: HealthHub, 2023. Weight, BMI and Health Problems.

BMI Interpretation for Children (Aged 6-18 years)

Source: HealthHub, 2026. Did You Know BMI Isn’t The Same For Adults And Kids?

You are not alone in managing diabetes. For support and advice, please reach out to the contacts below.

The information above is also available for download in pdf format.