A medical statistic showed that the ratio of Chinese children suffering from diabetics among total population under 14 has nearly tripled over the past 25 years.

A sampling survey taken in China's biggest city Shanghai has been cited by the city's Jiefang Daily to alert Chinese parents to the danger of diabetes acquired by their children.

The survey made by Children's Hospital of Fudan University shows an average of 1.7 children per 100 thousand suffered diabetes in Shanghai from 1997 to 2000. While the ratio in the same area in 1980s was only 0.61 per 100 thousand.

According to the survey, 90 percent of the child diabetes patients under 14 suffered from Type I diabetes, a chronic disease usually occurs among juvenile when the pancreas produces too little insulin to regulate blood glucose levels appropriately.

The causes of diabetes are complex, however, medical experts believe unbalanced diet, autoimmune failure, descendiblity and environmental factors are involved.

Type I diabetics need to take insulin on a daily basis, or, diabetes can lapse into a life-threatening diabetic coma, known as Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

Shen Shuixian, chief of the endocrinology department in children's hospital of Fudan University, appeals to public attention for the young diabetics.

"However, therapeutic cost is still a burden for many families." an expert present was quoted as saying.

Type I diabetics usually choose clinic treatment rather than hospitalization since expenses to cure diabetes is not covered by social medical insurance in China.

Experts suggested health authority should list diabetes, like cancer and leucocythemia, in medical care system in the near future, the newspaper said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2007)