Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes Care in Indonesia: A Review of Current Challenges and Practice

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic condition requiring lifelong management that affects a large number of children and adolescents globally. While diabetes care has improved over the years, low-middle income countries, such as Indonesia, still struggle to achieve optimal diabetes care due to limited access to healthcare professionals, insulin, diabetes technologies, and self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) devices. Data from the Indonesian Pediatric Society registry has reflected a stark increase in the number of children with T1DM, with the current prevalence significantly concentrated on Java island and a noticeable underreporting in rural regions. Another major challenge is the uneven distribution of pediatric endocrinologists, resulting in a low specialist-to-patient ratio. This imbalance, coupled with inadequate access to comprehensive diabetes care, complicates effective T1DM management. While the national insurance covers a portion of costs associated with T1DM care, vital aspects of T1DM management including SMBG devices are still not covered, resulting in significant financial burden to families. Access to diabetes technologies that improve glycemic control and quality of life of patients is also still largely limited. This paper evaluates the current state and future needs for insulin and SMBG in Indonesia, emphasizing the necessity of strategic interventions to improve access and quality of diabetes care.