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More than 7,000 under-25s in England and Wales have type 2 diabetes, report shows

DCUK NewsBot

DCUK NewsBot

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There are now more than 7,000 children and young adults under 25 with type 2 diabetes in England and Wales, according to Diabetes UK. The charity's figures are based on National Diabetes Audit for 2016-2017 data, which included data from 95% of GP surgeries across England and Wales. The findings are concerning, but it is important to address that type 2 diabetes can be put into remission, and steps can be taken to reduce a person's risk of the condition. Remission is when type 2 diabetes is well-controlled without the person needing to take diabetes medication. The government launched a sugar tax earlier this year as part of its childhood obesity campaign, and further proposals have been made to reduce the amount of sugar children are exposed to. These include restricting advertising of unhealthy food to children on TV and online. The audit data showed that 6,836 children and young people aged 25 or under are now receiving treatment for type 2 diabetes. A previous report compiled by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health identified 715 children being treated for type 2 diabetes in paediatric diabetes units in England and Wales. Type 2 diabetes is commonly associated with obesity and poor lifestyle, although the condition is also linked with genetics, which could help explain its development in children. Caroline Cerny, from the Obesity Health 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." A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "The upcoming NHS long-term plan will have prevention at its core and build on our existing work to keep people healthy and well." Editor's note: To avoid type 2 diabetes it is important to eat a healthy diet and cut down on sugar and processed foods, as well as getting regular exercise. Eating too much sugar and high carbohydrate foods such as burgers and chips can raise blood glucose levels, and this increases the risk of insulin resistance, a hallmark characteristic of type 2 diabetes development.

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I see this as a great victory for Big Food and a bonanza for Big Pharma.
And the sugar tax is not going to deter consumers, just make the politicians (pollies) feel complacent.
And we know that artificial sweeteners in soft drinks are not helpful ., but no-one thinks to tax or restrict them !!
Unless you actually stand up to Big Food, pollies out there, nothing will improve!!!
Except low carb high fat diets are helping, so why not a tax deduction for those on them ??
 
Yet Newsbot itself reported on the 'Freakshake' just the other day, this drink/dessert having 39 teaspoons of sugar in one serving and obviously aimed at children and young people. One member remarked that this is "criminal" and I agree, the poison often equates to dosage. The manufacturer should be named and shamed.
 
I just think all of this would be a good opportunity to educate the public about the role of carbs in general. Just about everybody knows that a sugar filled milk shake or deep fried mars bar or a family bag of crisps and sweets is 'sugar' and not good for anybody. Maybe they should inform people about the amount of carbs in food groups as well, ie the 'hidden' sugar if you like. Switching from the obvious sugary rubbish and replacing it with bread and pasta, etc will not help those under 25 year olds from possibly getting type 2. Having said all that, I guess every little helps.
 
I'm just delighted that children are being tested now.
We have the knowledge to help with IR unlike in the 1970s.
People assuming I ate too many dumplings and didn't exercise. I was stronger and fitter than most of my agemates. Even the weight pushing boys.
Ironically the weightloss milkshakes worked even then too.

Just back from dieticians. I've lost another kg. :)
 
Ps. Type2 diagnosises not prediabetes. I wonder how many with prediabetes?
 
In regards to the apparent helpfulness of artificial sweeteners I suggest reading;
'Artificial sweeteners induce glucose intolerance by altering the gut microbiota' Suez et al Nature Sept 2014.
People can then decide if it is worth having them in one's diet at all.
 
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