Bengaluru: Type-2 diabetes in children rising, doctors say obesity major risk factor

BENGALURU: Type-2 diabetes, which was earlier observed among the elderly is now being diagnosed in children, as young as 10 years old. City hospitals are sounding the alarm as one out of four children aged 10 to 18 are being screened with the lifestyle disease. Doctors say the increase is largely due to unhealthy habits like fast food and sugary drinks that are replacing nutritious meals and with physical activity continuing to drop. The combination of these factors is driving a rise in childhood obesity, which is a major risk factor for the early onset of Type-2 diabetes.
Dr Subramanian Kannan, consultant - endocrinology & diabetology, Narayana Health City, told TOI, "Typically, juvenile diabetes had meant Type-1, but we're now seeing a concerning rise in Type -2 among children. Abnormal glucose spikes in these young patients are leading to excessive weight gain, as well as delayed or irregular puberty. Ten years ago, we might have seen one case a month; now, we're seeing five to ten. Parents need to be extra vigilant, observing their kids' dietary and exercise habits."

Type-1 diabetes occurs when the body can't produce insulin because the immune system attacks the cells that make it. Type-2 diabetes happens when the body can't use insulin properly, often due to poor diet or lack of exercise, explained Dr Subramanian.
Dr Anusha Nadig, consultant - endocrinology, Fortis Hospital, said they see a minimum of five cases of children with Type-2 juvenile diabetes per month, which was once a rarity. "We've seen a significant increase of about 30% over the past two to three years," she pointed out.
"Kids today are spending more time on smartphones, playing video games, while outdoor play and sports have taken a backseat. Another worrying trend is the rise in mindless eating - many children now eat while glued to their phones, leading to overindulgence," she added.
Citing growing awareness among parents for the increase in numbers, Dr Manjunath Malige, director - diabetes & endocrinology, Sakra World Hospital, said, "Just five years ago, we might have seen two to three cases of young-onset Type-2 diabetes per month. Now, that number has doubled to four or five cases each month in our hospital alone. The causes are clear: a shift toward sedentary lifestyles, more time on screens and higher levels of stress, all compounded by a diet heavy in junk food and sugary, calorie-loaded fizzy drinks. This combination is leading to a surge in childhood obesity, which in turn, increases the risk of diabetes at younger ages."