Type 2 diabetes in children up by more than half since 2016

THE number of children who are being treated for type 2 diabetes has increased by 50 per cent in five years, a charity has found as it told the Government to keep its promise to tackle obesity.

Diabetes UK, which carried out the research, warned that the cost of living crisis could lead to further problems in years to come.

High levels of obesity and a squeeze on personal finances are creating a “perfect storm that risks irreversible harm to the health of young people”, the charity said.

In 2015-16, 621 children and young people were being treated for the disease as outpatients with an NHS Paediatric Diabetes Unit. By 2020-21, this figure had risen to 973.

Type 2 diabetes in children is a chronic condition and without treatment can lead to kidney failure and heart disease later in life.

The charity warned there were “soaring numbers” of children living with obesity and accused the Government of “letting our children down”.

Last month, ministers announced that the introduction of restrictions on junk food advertising and promotions would be postponed, prompting Diabetes UK to speculate that the policies were under “serious threat of not happening at all”.

Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: “We are very concerned that this spike in childhood obesity will translate into an even greater increase in children with type 2 diabetes in the coming years.”