Diabetes among children on the rise

ROJA KANDATH / TNN / Nov 13, 2002, 22:40 IST

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BANGALORE: World Diabetes Day falls on the same day as Children's Day __ on November 14. And there's something strange about it: Type II diabetes, which usually occurs in adults because of obesity and hypertension, is on the rise among children.

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">BANGALORE: World Diabetes Day falls on the same day as Children''s Day __ on November 14. And there''s something strange about it: Type II diabetes, which usually occurs in adults because of obesity and hypertension, is on the rise among children. At present, 2 per lakh child population in Bangalore are diabetics, and the number is increasing. According to a recent survey conducted on 7,500 students, obesity among children peaks during teenage leading to diabetes later.While five boys were obese at the age of four, 62 boys were overweight at 16. Forty girls were obese at the age of 12 and 62 at 15. ``Although girls become obese faster, they take measures to reduce weight,'''' says Dr K.M. Prasanna Kumar, president of the Diabetes Club in Bangalore, and professor and head, department of endocrinology, M.S. Ramaiah Medical College. He suggests indoor cycling and swimming for children. He says television and computer are the culprits for obesity among children. Dr Kumar has set up a Trust to take care of the health and educational needs of young diabetics. Presently, it serves insulin and school demands of 600 poor children in and around Bangalore. In the National Urban Diabetic Survey conducted last year, the prevalence of diabetes in 25-70 years olds was 12.4 per cent in Bangalore. Of a sample population of 1,359 patients screened in six cities, 14.9 per cent in Bangalore were diagnosed as borderline cases, who will sooner or later become diabetics. The survey suggests that one among every six Bangaloreans is a diabetic. While the prevalence in Bangalore is 12.4 per cent, it is 13.5 per cent in Chennai, 11.7 per cent in Kolkata, 9.3 per cent in Mumbai, 11.6 per cent in New Delhi and 16.6 per cent in Hyderabad. The World Diabetes Day is on November 14, the birthday of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, made the discovery of insulin in October 1921. The day recognises all people living with diabetes, whilst creating a stage for increasing awareness of the risks and management of the condition. The theme of 2002 is ``your eyes and diabetes'''': Don''t lose sight of the risks. Next year''s theme is Diabetes and kidney disease. Do''s and don''ts *Around 60 per cent of diabetes cases can be controlled by diet *Avoid direct sugars like sweets, jaggery, honey and starchy foods *Eat fruits, carbohydrates, non-vegetarian and fatty food in moderation *Take vegetables, vitamins and proteins.</div> </div>

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