Diabetes burden grows among children, adolescents: Study

CHENNAI: The prevalence of diabetes or pre-diabetes is increasing among children in India due to higher body mass index (BMI), glucose intolerance and metabolic syndrome, found a study.

The study, Obesity Reduction and Awareness of Non-Communicable Diseases through Group Education published in the American Journal Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics, added that it is more severe in children than cases of late onset of diabetes in adults.

Highlighting growing burden of type 2 diabetes in adolescents and young adults in India, the study led by Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF) and Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre found that compared to the last decade, the risk of diabetes among them has increased by 10 per cent.

Individuals diagnosed at a younger age have a more severe form of diabetes and poor glycaemic control when compared with those with late-onset diabetes. One of the key contributors to the severity of diabetes is overweight and obesity among adolescents and young adults. The findings also highlighted that increase in BMI and waist size were key risk factor for transitioning to diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Dr V Mohan, chairman and chief diabetologist said, “There is inadequacy of data, especially community level data, on the incidence of both diabetes and pre-diabetes in children, adolescents, and young adults. The study provides valid estimates of the diabetes trends in the country and help formulate policy on screening and prevention of diabetes in these younger age groups.”

Dr Ranjani Harish, senior scientist and head of translational research, MDRF, said that the prevalence of glucose intolerance was 3.7 per cent in 2010, which went up to 13.6 per cent in 2018. Every unit increase in BMI and fasting blood glucose increased the risk in the study group by two per cent and six per cent respectively.

Preventive measures like physical activity and healthy eating behaviours should be encouraged to avert the onset of a lifestyle disorder such as diabetes among young children, she added.