Child specialists have warned of an impending catastrophe, following an alarming rise in the number of children suffering from diabetes.

Thirty-three cases of children under 15 with type one diabetes have been reported since the start of the year, Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) head of paediatrics Dr Ali Ebrahim revealed yesterday.

He said more than 1,000 children have been diagnosed with the illness, compared with just 30 in 1989.

'Blame it on wars this region has had to suffer or on climate change and environmental pollution.

'The region is in the grip of a potential killer with the young population under threat.'

He said 23 children under 15 among every 100,000 people in Bahrain suffered from the disease, meaning they are dependent on insulin to reduce their blood sugar levels.

This compares with 8.6 children for every 100,000 people in 1993.

He said health authorities were trying to come to terms with diabetes and appealed for public support to tackle it.

'We are trying to manage the condition, with a team of professionals having been set up.

'But we need a very high level of co-operation from the people.'

A 24-hour hotline 36840404 has been set up for child diabetics, who can call at any time to discuss any problems. Qualified staff are at hand to answer.-TradeArabia News Service