Diabetes in Indian children

Type 2 diabetes on the rise among children in Bangalore


What used to be known as adult-onset diabetes is showing up in more and more children. It’s a strange paradox: while longevity is increasing thanks to technology, diseases of old age are visiting the young rather early. What once affected people in their 50s is now diagnosed in the 10-20 age group.

A study by the Karnataka Institute of Diabetology (KID) among 4,500 of its Type 2 diabetes patients found that 138 were in the age group of 10-30 years.
Shockingly, of them, 11 patients were 10-year-olds. Type 2 diabetes has been linked to obesity and other health risks, and until recently, was almost unheard of in children. But as the obesity rate climbs, the disease is showing up among pre-teens. The average age of diagnosis in the new study was 13.7 years, and dozens of cases involved kids under 15.

Founder-director Dr K R Narasimha Shetty said “Type 2 diabetes in such young patients was unthinkable. When such cases come to us, we take a lot of time to assess whether it is Type 1 or Type 2. The trend is alarming and the reasons are the kind of diet, obesity, lack of exercise and other lifestyle issues. I put them on medication and also suggest rigorous lifestyle modification.”

Other doctors, too, are seeing a rise in the number of young patients. At Manipal Hospital, endocrinologist Dr Mohan Badgandi sees at least one or two in the 20-30 age group every day. “We see 30-40 such cases every month. This age group is usually more motivated and ready to follow the doctor’s advice. I don’t suggest insulin pumps for this group unless some of them have very high sugar levels and consistent problems. I put them directly on the lifestyle modification programme.”

 At Fortis Hospital, there are at least three to four OPD patients with Type 2 diabetes every day. The trend started three to four years ago, and is on a steep rise. “The reason is sedentary lifestyle. None of these people follow diet or exercise regularly. They don’t understand what lifestyle modification is. They are in their twenties, have plum desk jobs but never make time to exercise. Nowadays, the trend in the medical fraternity is primary prevention of diabetes. All the patients who come here with Type 2 diabetes must have had it for the past four to five years. The onset is very early. They should start preventing it then. All high-risk patients who have a family history should plan their approach very, very early,” said endocrinologist, Fortis Hospital, Dr C V Harinarayan.

The use of the insulin pump has made the life of both patient and doctor easier. Only the cost has pushed it out of reach of poorer patients. An insulin pump is a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy that controls the amount of insulin required and how the sugar level changes. “It is definitely more helpful for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes because it provides stringent control. A lot of people with high Type 2 diabetes have been put on pumps by us recently,” added Dr K R Narasimha Shetty of Karnataka Institute of Diabetology.
  
 “An insulin pump is an excellent alternative to multiple daily insulin injections with a syringe or pen, and allows for intensive therapy when used in conjunction with blood glucose monitoring and carbohydrate counting. Many patients have benefited from this,” said endocrinologist Dr S S Srikant of Samatvam Endocrinology Diabetes Centre, Bangalore.





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Diabetes in Indian children