Rising Cases of Childhood Diabetes: Are Schools Prepared?

Kenya, 23 April 2026 - The number of recorded cases of diabetes among young children in Kenya has been rising.

Alarmingly, this trend is not limited to toddlers; it also affects teenagers, including those in boarding schools.

This raises a pressing question: are schools adequately prepared to care for students living with diabetes?

The Growing Concern

The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (2022) noted that chronic conditions such as diabetes are becoming more common among children and adolescents.

This highlights the urgent need for greater institutional preparedness.

For boarding students, the challenge is intensified by limited parental oversight and greater reliance on school systems for daily care.

Voices from the Surveys

A cross-sectional survey of teachers in Kenyan schools revealed mixed levels of knowledge and preparedness.

One teacher admitted: “We know diabetes is serious, but most of us have never been trained on how to respond to an emergency in class.”

Another respondent emphasised the need for awareness: “If schools had regular workshops, we would feel more confident in supporting diabetic students.”

The survey also found that while some teachers recognised the importance of dietary management, others struggled to adapt school meal schedules to meet medical needs.

Boarding schools, in particular, were identified as environments where rigid routines often clash with the flexibility required for effective diabetes care.