Health specialists at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have raised concerns about the rising trend of Type 2 diabetes among children in Ghana.

The chronic health condition, initially considered rare among children and mostly diagnosed in adults, is now rising among children between the ages of 12 and 16 years, a study by KATH has revealed.

According to the study, the medical condition has seen a 5% increase after it was first recorded at about 10% around 2024–2025, before rising to 15% in the latest KATH study published in July 2026.

Cause of the rising trend

The specialists have attributed the rise in cases to the consumption of unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and delayed diagnosis, citing serious long-term consequences if the situation is not tackled as soon as possible.

Stories of young patients

A 16-year-old Akosua Yeboah, not her real name, battled months of uncertainty before being told the unfortunate news about her condition. She said that at age 14, she developed excessive thirst, frequent urination, and unexplained weight loss. She was initially treated for a urinary tract infection before doctors eventually diagnosed her with Type 1 diabetes.

“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 said.

Twenty-seven-year-old Gideon Tettey had a similar experience after developing Type 1 diabetes as a teenager. He recognised the symptoms from a radio health programme before seeking medical care, but said misinformation and stigma made coping with the disease even harder.

“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 said.

A paediatric endocrinologist and child health specialist, Professor Emmanuel Ameyaw, noted that about fourteen (14) years ago, when the health facility established its diabetes clinic, only one child was receiving treatment. However, over a decade later, more than 400 children are currently receiving treatment at the facility, representing only a fraction of those living with the disease.

“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,” he said.

Professor Ameyaw said the growing number of children with Type 2 diabetes is particularly worrying because the condition has traditionally affected adults.

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

He attributed the rise to unhealthy eating habits, sugary drinks, processed foods, obesity, and increasingly sedentary lifestyles.

“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 said.

Professor Ameyaw also called for stronger government support to improve access to insulin and other essential medicines.

“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 said.

Doctors say managing diabetes also requires close attention to oral health.

Resident Orthodontist Dr Isaac Akotoye said diabetes and oral diseases can worsen each other if left untreated.

“Diabetes can affect oral health in several ways. If a person already has an oral disease such as periodontitis, diabetes can make the condition worse and may even lead to tooth loss. Even without a pre-existing oral condition, diabetes can cause problems such as periodontal abscesses, dry mouth, and dental cavities,” he said.

Some early signs of diabetes

Medical Officer at KATH’s Oral Diagnosis Department, Dr Ama Boakyewaa Yeboah, said persistent dry mouth, swollen gums, recurring mouth infections, and delayed wound healing could all be early warning signs of diabetes.

For her part, she said early medical attention would go a long way rather than dismissing the symptoms as minor medical conditions.

She also encouraged families to promote balanced diets, reduce sugary snacks and processed foods, and ensure children engage in regular physical activity to help lower the risk of diabetes.

What is diabetes? The current situation in Ghana

In 2024, Ghana recorded about 317,000 adults aged 20–79 living with diabetes, and projections suggest this number could rise to 808,000 by 2050. The age-standardised prevalence was estimated at 2.7% in 2024, with expectations that it will climb to 3.4% by 2050.

A major concern is that nearly 79% of adults with diabetes remain undiagnosed, meaning most people are unaware they have the condition. This silent burden increases the risk of complications and delayed treatment.

The disease also has a significant impact on mortality. In 2024, more than 2,300 deaths were directly attributed to diabetes. Beyond health outcomes, the economic cost is substantial: Ghana spent approximately $82 million on diabetes care in 2024, and this figure is projected to exceed $190 million by 2050.