Alarming Surge: Type-2 Diabetes Skyrockets in Bengaluru’s Children – Experts Reveal Obesity as a Major Threat
City hospitals in Bengaluru are raising alarms as Type-2 diabetes, traditionally linked with older adults, is increasingly being diagnosed in children as young as 10 years old. Reports indicate that one in four children aged 10 to 18 are being screened for this lifestyle disease. The rise in cases is largely attributed to poor dietary habits, such as the consumption of fast food and sugary drinks, which are replacing nutritious meals, coupled with declining physical activity levels.
According to Dr. Subramanian Kannan from Narayana Health City, there is a worrying increase in Type-2 diabetes among children, marked by abnormal glucose levels leading to excessive weight gain and disruptions in puberty. Comparatively, ten years ago, such cases were rare, but currently, several cases are reported monthly. Dr. Kannan emphasizes the need for parents to monitor their children’s eating and exercise routines closely.
Unlike Type-1 diabetes, which results from the immune system attacking insulin-producing cells, Type-2 diabetes arises when the body inefficiently uses insulin, often due to a sedentary lifestyle and poor diet, as Dr. Kannan points out.
Dr. Anusha Nadig from Fortis Hospital notes a monthly minimum of five cases of Type-2 diabetes in children, previously a rarity, highlighting a 30% increase in recent years. Contributing factors include increased screen time and a lack of outdoor activities, with children often eating while distracted by their phones, leading to overeating.
Dr. Manjunath Malige of Sakra World Hospital also reports a significant rise in young-onset Type-2 diabetes cases, seeing the numbers double over the past five years in their facility. He attributes this surge to sedentary lifestyles, higher stress levels, and diets rich in junk food and sugary beverages, which contribute to childhood obesity—a major risk factor for early diabetes onset.
In sum, the situation calls for urgent awareness and intervention to curb the escalating trend of Type-2 diabetes among the youth in Bengaluru.
Original Story https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/bengaluru-type-2-diabetes-in-children-rising-doctors-say-obesity-major-risk-factor/articleshow/115324524.cms
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