Chandigarh 6 march 2025 : In India, more than 100 million people have Type 2 diabetes. However, the big issue is that more than half of them are unaware that they have diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that slowly weakens the body. Initially, the kidneys are affected, but later, the heart, liver, and eyes also begin to be affected. Normally, diabetes occurs after the age of 25-30, but doctors say that now it is increasingly being seen in children as young as 15 years old.
Dr. M. Wali, Senior Consultant at the Medicine Department of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, says that until now, most cases of diabetes in children were Type 1 diabetes, but now the risk of Type 2 diabetes in children under 15 years old is continuously increasing. Having diabetes at a young age can affect the quality of life. This means that one problem or another continues throughout life.
What are the symptoms seen in children?
Dr. M. Wali says that the increasing cases of obesity in children have also raised the risk of diabetes at a younger age. In such cases, if a child is overweight, they should definitely get tested for diabetes. Type 2 diabetes develops very slowly in children, which is why there are no specific symptoms in the early stages.
Sometimes, diabetes is detected during routine check-ups. If a child’s blood sugar levels are often high, it becomes important to pay attention to the potential problems that might arise. If a child frequently feels thirsty, needs to urinate often, feels fatigued without any reason, or starts experiencing blurry vision, these symptoms should not be ignored. Sudden weight loss or frequent infections can also be a sign of diabetes.
Which children are at higher risk of diabetes? Children who are overweight are at a higher risk of diabetes. Additionally, if either parent has diabetes, the risk increases significantly. In the early stages, symptoms of diabetes in children are often not very clear, so parental vigilance plays a very important role. Dr. Wali says that if there is a family history of chronic diseases, along with excessive weight, and the child’s lifestyle and diet are unhealthy, the risk of diabetes and heart diseases before the age of 20 can increase many times.
How to prevent diabetes in children? Endocrinologist Dr. Sunil Mishra says that children often don’t realize they have diabetes. In such cases, if one of the parents has diabetes, special attention must be paid to this matter. Poor eating habits and lack of physical activity are major causes of diabetes in children. Therefore, encourage children to develop healthy eating habits. Make sure they eat green vegetables and salads daily. Avoid pizza, burgers, junk food, fast food, and packaged foods. Encourage children to play and engage in physical activities.
Summary: Doctors explain which children are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, even at age 15, and highlight the key symptoms to watch for.