There are nearly 7,000 children and young adults under 25 with type two diabetes in England and Wales. This is 10 times the number that was reported before (according to Diabetes UK).
Its analysis of 2016-17 data found most were being treated in GP practices rather than specialist units. The condition is said to be linked to obesity and is more aggressive in children. The Obesity Health Alliance said that it is hugely concerning to see so many young people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Caroline Cerny from the Alliance said: “We know that obesity contributes to the development of this and other serious health conditions, and with one in three children leaving primary school with excess weight or obesity, these findings are worrying but sadly not surprising,”
New figures from the latest National Diabetes Audit for 2016-2017 who contain information on cases of type 2 shows 95% of people with type 2 diabetes were treated at GP practices in England and Wales. It is estimates that a total of 6,836 children and young people aged under 25 were being treated for the condition.
The numbers categorised are:
- 11 five to nine-year-olds
- 196 10 to 14-year-olds
- 1,246 15 to 19-year-olds
- 5,383 20 to 24-year-olds
People at risk of diabetes are at risk of progressing quickly and creating other health conditions such as blindness, amputations, kidney failure or heart diseases.
What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is a serious life long condition where the insulin that your pancreas makes cannot work properly or it cannot make enough insulin.
About 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes; we all need insulin to live as it does an essential job and allows glucose in our blood to enter our cells and fuel our bodies. When you have type 2 diabetes your body will still break down carbohydrate from your food and drink and turns it into glucose. The pancreas responds to this by releasing insulin however, the insulin cannot work properly. Your blood glucose will keep rising as a result. For some people with diabetes this will eventually tire the pancreas out meaning they will keep producing less and less insulin.
What are the symptoms?
Many people have type 2 diabetes without realising. The symptoms are:
- Feeling thirsty all the time
- Peeing more than normal
- Feeling very tired
- Losing weight without trying too
- Cuts and wounds that take longer to heal
- Blurred vision
Who are more at risk?
People who are more at risk to diabetes are:
- People over the age of 40
- People who have close relatives with diabetes
- Are overweight or obese
