Type 2 diabetes affecting 7,000 under-25s

New Diabetes UK analysis has found that there are nearly 7,000 children and young adults under 25 with type 2 diabetes in England and Wales, with most being treated in GP practices rather than in specialist units.

The analysis of 2016-17 data says that the figure is about 10 times the number reported before, with child health experts, such as the Obesity Health Alliance, saying that the government should act now to implement proposals to cut childhood obesity.

The latest National Diabetes Audit for 2016-2017, which contains information on cases of type 2 from 95 per cent of GP practices in England and Wales, finds that a total of 6,836 children and young people aged under 25 were being treated for the condition, mainly made up of 20 to 24 year-olds.

Bridget Turner, director of policy and campaigns at Diabetes UK, said: "Type 2 diabetes can be devastating for children and young people. We need to encourage healthy living by providing clear and easy to understand nutritional information about the products we are all buying, and protect children from adverts for foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar."

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.”