Ranchi: Once considered largely an adult disease, type 2 diabetes is increasingly being detected among adolescents in the city, with doctors attributing the trend to obesity, sedentary lifestyles, junk food consumption, academic stress and inadequate physical activity.Paediatricians said many teenagers are now being brought to hospitals with symptoms such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, increased hunger, lethargy and unexplained fatigue. Some, however, reach hospitals only after developing serious complications.Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) paediatrics department head Dr Partha Kumar Chaudhary said the number of adolescents showing symptoms suggestive of type 2 diabetes is rising in the hospital’s outpatient department. He linked the trend to changing dietary habits, reduced physical activity and stress related to academic pressure.City-based paediatric endocrinologist Dr Nupur Singh said she is currently treating 18 adolescents with pre-diabetes and seven with type 2 diabetes. Most of them, she said, initially consulted her for obesity-related concerns.“Further investigations confirmed type 2 diabetes in seven of them. Obesity, sedentary lifestyles, junk food consumption and lack of physical activity are increasingly contributing to the detection of type 2 diabetes among adolescents, a condition that was predominantly seen in adults earlier,” Singh said.She warned that adolescent diabetes can increase the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver disease, polycystic ovary syndrome and mental health problems. Over time, patients may also develop kidney, heart and nerve-related complications, severely affecting their quality of life.Dr Singh advised parents to include more protein- and fibre-rich foods in their children’s diets, ensure adequate water intake and encourage 30-45 minutes of physical activity every day. She also recommended limiting screen time.Dr Vinod Kumar, senior consultant, paediatrics and neonatology, Bhagwan Mahavir Manipal Hospital, said he has diagnosed type 2 diabetes in 12 teenagers.“Most of them come to me in a critical condition, with abdominal pain, vomiting and rapid breathing, often requiring ICU admission and constant monitoring,” Kumar said. Their medical histories frequently revealed earlier symptoms such as excessive urination and increased hunger.Doctors said early screening and sustained lifestyle changes can help adolescents manage the condition and lead healthier lives.
