Alarming rise of Diabetes Mellitus in Delhi’s young can be managed through plant-based diet, lifestyle changes

 “Author : Dr. Vanita Rahman”

•  Simple dietary adjustments can have a significant impact on the control of type II diabetes, especially in children, adolescents and younger adults who are at a higher risk of developing related complications later in life.

New Delhi, March 15, 2024:

Up until a few years ago, diabetes in adolescents and people under 25 was unheard of in India and the National Capital. What was described as ‘juvenile diabetes’ referred to type 1 diabetes, which is thought to be an auto-immune condition. However, in the last few years the incidence of type 2 diabetes in adolescents is twice that of type 1 diabetes in several ethnic groups, including those of South Asians and Indian descent.

Eighteen percent of Delhi’s population has diabetes or pre-diabetes. Another note of concern is the 20% increase in type 2 diabetes among children and young adults. Rise in childhood obesity and the changing dietary patterns are considered among the main causes of this alarming trend.

“That is a dangerous trend,” says Dr. Vanita Rahman, an internal medicine and lifestyle medicine physician with a US-based non-profit organisation, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

“Younger people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are at risk of developing related complications at an earlier age. It is also a disease which progressively worsens if adequate lifestyle changes are not implemented,” she added.

Dr. Rahman is in Delhi to speak at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to spread awareness among medical professionals about the need of managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) primarily through diet and lifestyle choices.

Lifestyle, dietary changes key to address disease in youngsters

 “The most frequent treatment methods include pharmacological interventions like insulin therapy and oral hypoglycaemic medications, which often must be consumed throughout one’s life. However medications do not reverse the disease process. This is why there is a need to shift focus to early detection and proactive lifestyle changes. A plant-based diet can prevent, treat, and even reverse these conditions, according to a wealth of research,” she added.

A plant-based diet was found to be three times more successful in controlling blood sugar than a standard diabetes diet that restricted calories and carbohydrates, according to a clinical study conducted by PCRM.

To prevent type 2 diabetes in children, Dr. Rahman says, “It is imperative to change the diet of the child, limiting sugary beverages and processed foods and exercising regularly. Finally, children emulate what they see. Creating a supportive environment that demonstrates healthy choices is crucial because children are more likely to adopt and maintain positive lifestyle habits when they witness their loved ones embodying these practices.”

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