Number of young people with diabetes rockets by THIRD due to obesity crisis – The Sun

THE number of under-40s with diabetes has rocketed by a third in 20 years as a result of the obesity crisis.

Younger adults now make up 12.5 per cent of cases compared to 9.5 per cent in 2000, a study shows.

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Experts warn those in the age group are more likely to be fat, have poor blood-sugar control and high bad cholesterol.

Researchers also found new diagnoses of Type 2 diabetes in those aged 41 to 50 went up from 14 per cent to 17.5 across the two decades.

The findings by Australian scientists looking at 340,000 new NHS cases were presented at an annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Barcelona.

Professor Sanjoy Ketan Paul, from Melbourne University, said inactivity, poor diet and obesity are fuelling the rise in young adults with the condition.

He added: People are increasingly stuck in front of TVs and phones, and eating junk food. This lazy lifestyle causes obesity and inactivity, which raises Type 2 diabetes risk.

We need to pick up cases earlier and treat them more intensively.

There are 3.7million Brits with diabetes double the number from two decades ago.

Experts estimate a million more are unaware they have the disease, taking the true total closer to 5 million.

Last month, The Sun teamed up with The Low Carb Program to publish a revolutionary eating plan aimed at combating type 2 diabetes.

Doc's top tips on preventing type 2 diabetes

A few simple lifestyle changes could prevent you from developing type 2 diabetes.

GP Dr Dawn Richards, from VitalityHealth, says: "Living a healthier and more active lifestyle can delay or event prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes."

She offered her five top tips to help mitigate the risk of developing the condition...

1. Get active

Working your muscles more often and making them work harder improves their ability to use insulin and absorb glucose.

Your goal should be to introduce 30 minutes of physical activity that makes you sweat and breathe a little harder most days of the week.

2. Eat well

Following a Mediterranean or other heart-healthy diet can help reduce your risk of developing diabetes.

The type of carbohydrates you eat as well as serving size is key.

Focus on whole grain carbs instead of starchy carbs since theyre high in fibre and digested slowly, keeping blood sugar levels more even.

3. Control your blood pressure

Most people can do this with regular exercise, a balanced diet and by keeping a healthy weight.

In some cases, you might need medication prescribed by your doctor.

4. Cut down on alcohol

Too much alcohol can lead to weight gain and may increase your blood pressure.

Try to keep to a maximum of 14 units a week.

But spread it out to avoid binge drinking, and go several days a week without alcohol.

5. Stop smoking

If you smoke, your chance of getting diabetes and other serious health conditions is even higher.

Contact your GP if you experience the following:

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Dr Faye Riley, from Diabetes UK, said: Type 2 diabetes is serious, and this research stresses the particularly dangerous nature of the condition in those diagnosed at a younger age.

So with numbers risingwe have to stop this upward trend and the potentially devastating consequences.

A spokesperson for the NHS said: Families and other parts of society must step up as part of what needs to be a concerted effort to tackle the growing obesity epidemic.

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is the more common form of the disease - accounting for between 85 and 95 per cent of all cases, according to Diabetes UK.

It develops when the insulin-producing cells in the body are unable to produce enough insulin.

It can also be triggered when the insulin that is produced doesn't work properly.

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Number of young people with diabetes rockets by THIRD due to obesity crisis - The Sun