No more a SWEET childhood

 BANGALORE: Eighteen-year-old Ravi was piling on extra kilos registering a drastic increase. Within six months, the engineering student touched 96 kgs. Apart from dealing with fat bulges, he also started experiencing frequent urination, urges and itching in his genital area. His parents consulted a doctor and were shocked when he was diagnosed with type II diabetes. This non communicable disease is increasingly affecting the young and is labelled as a slow killer. With the number of children affected by this disease soaring by the day, doctors recommend precaution and constant monitoring by parents and teachers for the symptoms.“Along with obesity among children and adolescents, additional risk factors for type II diabetes for this age group due to life style changes are becoming increasingly apparent,” says Dr Mala Dharamlingam, professor and head of the department of endocrinology at M S Ramaiah Hospital. The hospital witnesses 20 newly-diagnosed patients with type II diabetes and four to five type I new cases every month.Twelve-year old Sudhakar approached doctors with complaints of dehydration, sudden weight-loss and very low immune system. After physical examination, doctors screened him for blood sugar level which was found to be 600 iu. Without wasting time, doctors admitted him for treatment. After five days of treatment, the blood sugar level came down to normal. Since then, he was put on insulin and was also taught self-monitoring of glucometer. He was advised a certain lifestyle modification to control his type I diabetes. The boy now has to live with insulin for his life.Dr Mala said that the city is already known as the Diabetic capital for type I diabetics. Hence, it is high time to start implementing preventive measures at all levels. It is not only the responsibility of parents but school authorities too who should also take a call on it, she said. “The school canteen could serve healthy meals rather than selling chips or cola. They should make an  hour of exercise mandatory everyday,” she said. The number of type I diabetes or juvenile diabetes patients is documented but experts are yet to pinpoint the reason for the high number. Dr Narshimha Shetty, Director, Karnataka Institute of Diabetology, explained, that the reasons for the cause of  type II is widely known but for type I, the exact cause is still unknown.Warning signals:■ Frequent urine urges■ Excessive thirst resulting in high water intake ■ Weight-loss■ Bedwetting at sleep ■ Weakness and lethargy■ Fatigue■ Obesity