50% RISE IN UNDER 25S WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES

THE number of children and young people being treated for Type 2 diabetes at specialist units has leapt by 50% in five years, a study reveals today. And experts say the childhood obesity crisis is fuelling the rising numbers with the condition, usually only seen in older adults. Some 745 under-25s in England and Wales received care from paediatric diabetes units last year, a jump of 47% on 2013/14.

Of those, 84% were obese, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s report said.

Prof Russell Viner, of the RCPCH, said Type 2 was a “serious condition associated with obesity” which could lead to amputations or kidney failure if badly managed.

And Nikki Joule, of Diabetes UK, said “urgent action must be taken to tackle childhood obesity” to “arrest the alarming rise” in young people being diagnosed.

The Local Government Association, which analysed the RCPCH figures, warned the true number of young people with the condition was likely to be higher as many are treated solely at GPS.

And it urged the Government to reverse £700million cuts to public health funding for councils, which could be used to fight obesity.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth said: “We need urgent action now. Being overweight is one of the key risk factors, which is preventable, and councils are uniquely placed to do something about this.

“Type 2 can be a lifelong, debilitating illness and these figures will only multiply if we delay.”

The condition occurs when the body produces too little insulin or cells do not react to it.

It accounts for 90% of the UK’S 3.8million diabetes cases.

IN THE PINK Shirley and Daniel at the Palladium BLACK MAGIC Sheridan STARS Jac Yarrow and Jason Donovan WHITE STUFF Amanda