As per the World Health Organisation, 77 million Indians over the age of 18 have type 2 diabetes, and another 25 million are prediabetics, or at a higher risk of getting the disease in the near future. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in youngsters, especially in teenagers between the ages of 12 and 18. The Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism reports that type 2 diabetes affects 0.5% to 1.5% of children and adolescents. Even though this number might not seem like much, it represents considerable growth over previous decades. Almost 1 in every 10 (10.4%) Indian adolescents (10-19 years) is estimated to be pre-diabetic.
Dr Smriti Pahwa, Regional Director, North India, Arogya World, says, “Urbanisation and changes in lifestyle have resulted in less physical exercise and an increase in the consumption of processed, high-calorie foods. Once uncommon in youngsters, type 2 diabetes is being diagnosed in this age group more frequently. This trend has been exacerbated by sedentary lifestyles, stress, and rising obesity rates. Indian adolescents lead sedentary lives as 3 out of 4 adolescents in India were reported to be insufficiently physically active. Overweight and obesity, as well as the threat of diabetes, are on the rise among school-age children in India.”
A third of Indian teenagers are estimated to have high blood pressure. It is important to intervene before children’s lifestyle habits are set and help them make exercise and healthy eating part of their everyday lives. Otherwise, they will grow up to get diabetes and heart disease at alarming rates and further contribute to India’s NCD crisis. There is compelling evidence that NCDs are largely preventable. According to the World Health Organization, 80% of heart disease, 80% of type 2 diabetes, and 40% of cancers can be prevented with 3 lifestyle changes – eating right, exercising and avoiding tobacco.
Dr Pahwa adds, “The first and foremost step in dealing with the growing burden of diabetes among children is the need to create awareness and educate individuals, especially children. Schools serve as the most effective platform for educating children at a young age for a healthier future. Inculcating healthier lifestyle choices in a younger generation can prove to be beneficial, and using schools as a platform for this is an effective measure. To combat the NCD crisis, studies show adolescents should be prioritized because of their adaptability and because most NCD risk factors are acquired during adolescence.”
A key recommendation of India’s National NCD Monitoring Framework is school-based programs to integrate good dietary practices and exercise into daily routines. Schools are ideal platforms to improve healthy behaviors in children and adolescents and to mobilize parents/communities around health.
The growing burden of diabetes in India
In India, there are over 100 million instances of diabetes, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, and in the next 20 years, this figure is predicted to double. Dr Pahwa shares, “Diabetes is the primary cause of many health issues, including renal failure, heart attacks, strokes, blindness, and amputation of lower limbs. With more than 500 million instances of diabetes confirmed by 2021, the disease is becoming a major health concern worldwide, especially in India, which is called the diabetes capital.” Two years ago, India had 74 million verified cases; however, due to a lack of regular screening, it is anticipated that there are half as many undiagnosed cases as confirmed cases. Therefore, there is a need to create awareness regarding preventing measures as well as screening, not just among adults but among children too, as recent reports suggest a growing prevalence of diabetes among children.
There are increasing cases of diabetes among children in India
The primary cause of the rise in diabetes cases among children in India is changing lifestyles, which include eating unhealthy diets heavy in fats and sweets and inadequate physical activity. Urbanisation has led to a sedentary lifestyle among children; they spend less time playing outside and more time in front of devices. Furthermore, the Indian population has a hereditary propensity for diabetes. One major contributing reason is the rising rates of childhood obesity, which are fueled by these lifestyle variables. The problem is made worse by ignorance and delayed diagnosis, which emphasises the need for better education and early intervention techniques to address this developing health issue.
How Can Schools Help Reduce the Risk?
Dr Pahwa shares, “Schools can play a critical role in the prevention of diabetes by encouraging students to lead healthy lives. They can put in place health education initiatives and programmes that emphasise the value of a balanced diet, regular physical activity and positive lifestyle habits. Healthy eating practices can be promoted by providing nutritious meals in school cafeterias and limiting the availability of sugary snacks and drinks. Sports and active play are two more ways that schools can offer lots of opportunities for physical activity.”
Diabetes risk factor early diagnosis and control can be aided by routine health screenings and public awareness efforts. Schools can lower the risk of diabetes in children by creating a supportive atmosphere that helps them develop healthy behaviours and habits at a young age. Addressing the need to adopt a preventive approach at a young age helps in building a secure future and reducing the risk of suffering from serious illnesses in the long run.
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