Young Adults Hit by Diabetes Surge

Type 2 diabetes, traditionally associated with middle age, is now being diagnosed in young adults and even teenagers as young as 15 in the city. This concerning shift is attributed by medical experts to evolving dietary habits, rising obesity rates, decreased physical activity, and disrupted sleep patterns. A significant number, nearly two in 10 patients aged 18 to 25, are presenting with diabetes symptoms or have already received a diagnosis.

This emergence of diabetes at an earlier age in India, potentially 15 years sooner than in other countries, raises alarms about long-term health complications affecting the heart, kidneys, and eyes. Young professionals on night shifts are particularly vulnerable due to disturbed circadian rhythms and metabolic disruptions, increasing insulin resistance. Experts also highlight inadequate sleep and excessive screen time among youth as contributing factors, leading to hormonal changes that promote weight gain and metabolic dysfunction.

Physicians are also cautioning against the unsupervised use of GLP-1 receptor medications for diabetes and obesity, emphasizing the need for medical supervision to prevent adverse health effects.