Empowering Health Cadres Through Smartkelor Kids For Early Childhood Diabetes Prevention And Digital Economic Development Using Local Plants

Abstract

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar levels resulting from impaired insulin production or function.(1) Although the prevalence of DM is more commonly reported in adults, the rise in obesity and unhealthy lifestyles among children puts them at risk of developing DM from an early age (2). Data from Indonesia show an upward trend in the incidence of diabetes among children, in line with global trends. Recent reports indicate that by 2025, the number of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (type 1 DM) in Indonesia will approach 2,000 cases, with a consistent increase in new cases each year since 2022. This situation reflects the increasing burden of diabetes among children and adolescents, which requires special attention within the healthcare system (3). Recent studies confirm that the rise in Type 1 DM cases among children in Indonesia is influenced not only by biological factors but also by access to healthcare services and public awareness of the early symptoms of diabetes in children (4). Tanah Bumbu Regency has a relatively high number of DM patients based on local health administrative data. The high prevalence of DM in the general population and the increasing number of participants in noncommunicable disease screenings indicate potential risks that may also affect the pediatric population (Tanbu Health Office, 2025). Based on interviews and observations conducted in Binawara Village, it was found that cases of diabetes mellitus (DM) in children are still largely not identified early, either by parents or healthcare workers. Interview results indicate that most parents do not yet understand the risk factors for DM in children—such as high sugar intake, lack of physical activity, and family history—so early symptoms are often dismissed as normal conditions. Field observations also reveal limitations in routine DM screening for children; this situation has the potential to cause delays in diagnosis and treatment, which could ultimately increase the risk of long-term complications. Therefore, more structured promotive and preventive efforts are needed through improved health education and strengthening the role of community health centers and community health workers in the early detection of diabetes in children.