Shocking rise in childhood diabetes
Disease is ‘ten times worse than feared among young’
THE true scale of the diabetes crisis in children and young people is up to ten times higher than previously thought, experts have warned.
The charity Diabetes UK analysed an audit of GPs and found that nearly 7,000 under-25s received treatment for the condition in England and Wales in 2016/17.
This is almost ten times more than the 715 under-25s receiving treatment in specialist diabetes clinics, as reported in August.
Today’s figures give the fullest picture to date because they combine the latest national audit of the number of children attending specialist diabetes clinics and the National Diabetes Audit, covering 95 per cent of GP practices.
They show that in 2016/17, a total of 6,836 people under the age of 25 were being treated for Type 2 diabetes. This included at least 11 aged nine and under, 196 aged ten to 14, 1,246 between 15 and 19 and a further 5,383 aged between 20 and 24.
Doctors say rising obesity is to blame for the surge in cases, which until 20 years ago had only ever been seen in adults.
Professor Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said the figures showed why urgent action was needed.
He said: ‘We were concerned that the numbers of children we were seeing with Type 2 diabetes was an underestimate.
‘This latest analysis shows these concerns were justified and emphasises the need to act.’ Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition where the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or where the insulin the pancreas has made doesn’t work properly. It is generally associated with factors including poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle.
With 34 per cent of children in England overweight or obese by the time they leave primary school, Diabetes UK warned that thousands more could be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the next few years.
The condition is much more aggressive in children and young people than in adults and can lead to heart disease, kidney damage and blindness.
Experts fear many younger patients will succumb to these in their teens or 20s because there is a higher overall risk of complications that tend to appear much earlier.
Professor Viner said children who are at risk can still be helped through diet and exercise. He added: ‘For many children, the development of Type 2 diabetes can be prevented with lifestyle changes but this isn’t easy – they need support.
‘That’s why we were pleased to see the ambitious proposals set out in the Childhood Obesity Plan. We urge the Government to maximise their impact by introducing them all and doing so quickly.’
Diabetes UK has called for better specialist support for youngsters with the condition to help manage their illness and reduce their risk of serious complications.
The charity also backed proposals for a ban on junk food TV advertising aimed at children before 9pm, and to restrict supermarket price promotions for unhealthy foods, being considered as part of the Government’s latest childhood obesity plan.
Bridget Turner, its director of policy and campaigns, said: ‘Children and young people with Type 2 diabetes should have access to expert treatment by healthcare professionals trained to manage and research the condition and the challenges it presents.’
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: ‘We are committed to halving child obesity by 2030 and will be launching consultations to restrict promotions in shops for sugary and fatty foods, as well as a 9pm watershed ban on advertising.
‘The upcoming NHS long-term plan will have prevention at its core and build on our existing work to keep people healthy and well.’
‘Risk of serious complications’