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Type 2 diabetes rising among kids: Experts
Saturday November 12, 2011 09:55:40 AM,
IANS
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Kolkata: Type 2
diabetes, the most common form of the illness, is on the rise
among children under 15-years-old, with altered lifestyles and bad
food habits increasing their vulnerability to the ailment, experts
say.
"Type 2 diabetes which is generally associated with adults is now
on the rise among children. The children these days are mostly
into junk food and remain hooked to computers and TV, ignoring
physical activities like sports. This is making them prone to the
disease," nutrition specialist Hena Nafis said.
Nafis said the number of children suffering from diabetes in the
country was more than 70,000 with majority of them affected by
type 1 diabetes, commonly known as juvenile diabetes, while the
percentage of type 2 diabetes is gradually rising.
"In type 1 the immune system of the body attacks and destroys the
insulin producing cells resulting in the sugar remaining
unabsorbed in the body. Exact reasons for this are still a matter
of research. Healthy lifestyle and food habits though can reduce
the chances of catching type 2," said paediatrician Sharmila
Gupta.
In type 2 of the disease the fat, liver, and muscle cells do not
respond correctly to insulin. As a result, blood sugar does not
get into these cells to be stored for energy.
Gupta and Nafis were present at an awareness programme for
schoolchildren organised at the city's Bhagirathi Neotia Woman &
Child Care Centre Friday.
Gupta cited excessive thirst and urine discharge, extreme hunger,
unexplained weight loss and increased fatigue as the major
symptoms of the disease.
She also said there was a need for spreading awareness about
disease. "A child with type 1 has to inject insulin regularly
which often causes people to attach a social stigma to him,
ultimately leading the kid to depression. People, especially
children, need to be made aware that those kids are as normal as
others."
On the life expectancy of a diabetic child, Nafis said with proper
monitoring and following due precautions and medication a child
can live a normal life.
She also said pot belly in children could be a sign of impending
disease. "Pot belly is caused when excessive sugar gets deposited
in the belly. It is a warning sign and the parents must rush to a
doctor. It can be a sign of the impending disease."
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