This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
1,600 children now living with type 2 diabetes
A new NHS Digital report has revealed that nearly 16,00 children and young people in England are now living with type 2 diabetes.
The Young People with Type 2 Diabetes Report, published today by NHS digital, reveals that 1,560 children and young people (18 and under) in England have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Though other factors such as ethnicity play an important role, obesity and overweight is thought to be behind the rising number of children with the condition.
Labelled ‘an alarming wakeup call’ by Diabetes UK, the research also indicated that only 30 per cent of children who live with the condition are receiving the care they need to live well with diabetes. When people don’t get the care they need, it can lead to serious complications. Getting the right care is vital for everyone who lives with diabetes, but it's particularly important for those diagnosed under 18.
Diabetes UK says that the NHS, NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and the government all have a role to play in tackling the crisis and is calling for: the NHS to prioritise developing specialist services designed to support children and young people living with type 2 diabetes; NICE to review and reinforce their guidelines and make sure they explain clearly that children living with type 2 diabetes must receive the same level of specialist care that children with type 1 receive; and for the government to work harder to tackle childhood obesity.
Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: "It is shocking for even one child to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but to see nearly 1600 children living with the condition is a sad indictment of the health of our nation."
"These new figures are a worrying wakeup call. The environment we live in is a major contributing factor to rising levels of childhood obesity, and in turn type 2 diabetes. Far more needs to be done to improve the environment in which we live in, to help us all to make healthier choices and consequently, to stop cases from increasing further."
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