‘Bengal model’ to fight Type 1 diabetes (T1D) set to go global

KOLKATA: The ‘Bengal model’ for tackling Type 1 diabetes (T1D), an auto-immune condition commonly diagnosed in children and teenagers, is set for global expansion with several southeast Asian countries expressing an intent to adopt it.

The model — functional in 15 districts through clinics focusing on detection, management through distribution of free insulin, referral and rehabilitation — has narrowed the healthcare access gap for children with T1D.

Action4Diabetes (A4D), a UK-based organisation that works among children and young adults in Asian countries, has approached the Bengal health department for assistance in understanding the design, implementation and operational aspects of the Bengal T1D care model, state govt officials said.

Sources said the state health department is working on sharing the nitty-gritty of the model for implementation in Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines, among other countries.

Bengal is the first state in the country to launch a wellstructured programme for children with TID — a condition where the pancreas loses its ability to produce insulin, resulting in a spike in the blood sugar level.

Designed and developed by a team from the endocrinology department at IPGMER-SSKM Hospital, led by professor Sujoy Ghosh, it started as a pilot project in five districts in 2022, and has since expanded across 15 districts. Thirteen more districts could come within its fold soon.

Eight other Indian states are planning to replicate similar models to tackle juvenile diabetes.

“The Bengal model for T1D is now a published work. We should help others if they want to replicate such good practices,” said state principal health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam. The letter from A4D regional manager Fiona Ooi seeking guidance on the implementation of the model in other countries was addressed to professor Ghosh of SSKM, the health secretary said.

The letter has asked for a demonstration of the software being used in the T1D model, implementation processes, governance and data management. “Our intention is to learn from and adopt the most effective and relevant aspects of the West Bengal model, adapting these insights to strengthen T1D programmes across Southeast Asia,” the letter said.

The Bengal model, supported by Unicef and National Health Mission, runs through non-communicable disease clinics and covers approximately 1,700 children. The team also maintains robust data and documents every step, including clinical outcomes and the economic burden on the children's families.

“In the beginning, we had hardly 100 children when the clinic started at SSKM. Now, this model has ensured accessibility, allowing us to diagnose more children and guarantee their care. While the number of patients is increasing, there have been zero deaths due to this sustainable care model,” said Ghosh, the brain behind the initiative.

Ghosh and his team are likely to share their expertisewith A4D once the health dept grants approval.