World Health Day: Rise of type-II diabetes in the age group of 12-25 a major concern, say doctors

The rise of type-II cases being reported among the adolescent age group has become a reason for worry among city-based diabetologists.

With many of them having uncontrolled blood sugar levels, diabetologists say that the productive population is getting diabetes and disease related complications which is a cause of concern.

"We are seeing a peak in type-II in the age group of 12-25. Being a lifestyle disease, poor dietary habits combined with sedentary lifestyle is the main reason attached to it," said Dr Shashank Joshi, endocrinologist, Lilavati hospital who conducted the study from Mumbai.

Doctors say many people are ignorant that they have diabetes which can be dangerous to them as many end up with diabetes complication. "This age group is a productive age group and therefore we need to be more careful. It is found that a diabetic person in India goes without a diagnosis for years till the time the person gets complications related to it," added Joshi.

Amputation of foot is a common complication because of uncontrolled diabetes, say doctors. Dr Tushar Rege, consultant diabetic foot surgeon at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, said: "I have got many patients who had uncontrolled diabetes for not following proper treatment and regime and got diabetic foot neuropathy. In some cases we had to amputate the legs."

Dr Arun Bal, diabetic foot surgeon at SL Raheja Hospital, said that uncontrolled blood sugar levels diabetes is known to cause changes in the nerves. "Uncontrolled blood sugar levels tend to damage the nerve. It generally affects the toes, feet, legs, hands and arms. IT also reduces the sensation. Injuries like ulcer tend to get unnoticed and develop infection. If not treated on time, it can turn gangrene increasing the risk of amputation," said Bal.

Currently, 67 million people are diagnosed with diabetes and 35 million people are pre-diabetic patients. Near about 2 lakhs people lose their leg due to not looking after the wound or the infection or the wound is under treated or not treated properly.

Bal said that 85% of these people who lost their leg were preventable. He said the patient needs to be educated about the disease and should take proper and preventive measures such as maintaining skin's moisture, treat the wound properly before it catches infection.

Bal said that he received a patient in his late twenties who had a foot injury due to wearing wrong footwear. "The patient ignored the injury and the wound got worse. He also had kidney problem. Timely diagnosis and treatment ensured that we could save his leg and he is able to walk again," he added.

Diabetes is also one of the most common cause of kidney failure, accounting for nearly 30-40 per cent of new cases. Dr Jatin Kothari, consulting nephrologist, PD Hinduja hospital said, "In last few years there has been rapid increase in diabetes people getting kidney problems. What is surprising is we are getting many young people with diabetes and kidney problems. It is the type II diabetes which is a problem compared to type I diabetes. The progression of the kidney problem in a type II diabetes patient is also faster in comparison to type I diabetes and more difficult to treat. At least 50 per cent of the patients requiring dialysis or transplant are diabetes patient."

Diabetes complications include:

Brain: Stroke
Eyes: Diabetic Retinopathy (Loss of Vision)
Heart: Myocardial Infarction
Kidney: Diabetic Nephropathy (Irreversible damage)
Nerves: Diabetic Neuropathy (Loss of Sensation)
Feet: Infection/ gangrene (Amputation)