Type II diabetes is no longer a traditionally adult disease

DIABETES IN CHILDREN: A history of diabetes and obesity increases your child's chances of getting diabetes.

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New Delhi: Twelve-year-old Hargun was diagnosed with diabetes and the causes that triggered the disease were a sedentary and high-level of stress.

Endocrinologist Dr Ambrish Mittal says, "South Asians are more prone to Type II diabetes, especially since their lifestyle is such that they put on weight very fast."

The International Diabetes Foundation finds that there has been an increment of 30 per cent in Type II diabetes in children in the last two decades. In India, a study on obese children in AIIMS found that out of 400 obese children, four have got diabetes and almost 37 children were pre-diabetic between the age of 10 and 18.

There are some warning signs that parents can watch out for like increased thirst, increased need to urinate, increased appetite and fatigue, even blurred vision and frequent and slow healing infections.

Type II diabetes is not curable this is a life-long condition, but you can learn how to manage it with a complete change in lifestyle.

"Apart from counseling, regular exercise, small frequent meals and high fibre more of vegetables as well as meals low in fat are important. This means avoiding fast food. Also, medication like Metfommin, which is the keystone in treating Type II diabetes should be taken regularly," says Dr Mittal.

If you have a history of diabetes and it is coupled with obesity, it increases your child's chances of getting diabetes by 50 per cent. There is no cure so prevention really is the key.