Doctors worried as more youngsters have type-II diabetes

KOCHI: Early onset of type-II diabetes among children and youths is a major worry, said health experts, who added that this could lead to complications later if it is not diagnosed and treated.
“The onset age is coming down steadily. Earlier, it was people in their 40s who were diagnosed with diabetes. But, now we see lots of people who are diagnosed in their 20s.Even type-II diabetes among children is increasing mainly because of their lifestyle,” Dr Harish Kumar, who heads centre for endocrinology and diabetes at AIMS, Kochi.
A decade ago, doctors used to get (average) one or two patients in their early 20s or teens with type-II diabetes, now they see three to four such cases a week. Though relatively less, doctors are concerned that increasing numbers means increase in complication associated with diabetes at an early age.
“Around 30-40% patients who come with us with stroke are diabetic. In youth, around 10% are detected with diabetes on presentation of stroke,” said neurologist at Baby Memorial Hospital Dr V G Pradeep Kumar.
“There has to be massive awareness campaigns and even legislations and legal interventions to ensure that people eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. We need to subsidize fruits and vegetables and tax high calorie or high fat foods,” said diabetologist Dr Sreejith N Kumar.
A study by Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies had shown that the risk of early onset of type-II diabetes is lowest among non-migrant and non-poor categories. “Poverty in adulthood and a history of migration carries a greater risk. But risk is compounded if the person is a migrant and continues to be non-affluent,” said V Raman Kutty, head, Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies.