5% schoolkids in UP at risk of diabetes: Study

Lucknow: Around 10% schoolchildren and adolescents in India and 5% in UP are at risk of diabetes, according to the first-ever national micro-nutrient survey conducted by the Union health ministry, the report of which was recently released.


Titled Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey, the report also noted that 8.9% children in the 10-19 years age group in the state had increased blood pressure level against a national average of 4.9%. It also recorded high triglyceride level in 10% children both in the country and the state.

Acknowledging the trend as a “growing threat”, the survey underscored the onset of “double burden of malnutrition” in a number of states. The term refers to the simultaneously existing twin challenge of under-nutrition (problems of underweight, stunting and wasting) and over-nutrition (overweight and obesity) that states need to tackle.

The survey undertook a comprehensive nutritional assessment of over 1.12 lakh children in the 0-19 age group across 30 states, including UP.

For this, two objectives were fixed. First, measure malnutrition in children and adolescents. Second, assess biomarkers of non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol and kidney function. To draw conclusions, the research team that included experts from Unicef took blood samples of children and evaluated them against the prescribed standards.

To measure the risk of diabetes, biomarker of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was picked. This test measures percentage of blood sugar attached to haemoglobin and is considered to be a robust test for long-term sugar management.

On the count, samples of 5% children in UP in 5-9 years age group and 4% adolescents (10-19 years) were found in the “pre-diabetic” category. “Pre-diabetes is marked by high insulin resistance and speaks for unhealthy diet and lifestyle. Studies have shown that over 50% of those who fall in the pre-diabetic category eventually develop the disease,” Prof Narsingh Verma, president UP Diabetes Association, told TOI.

Decoding the findings on high triglyceride level, vice-president of Cardiological Society of India and faculty member of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences professor Satyendra Tiwari said: “Triglyceride is a type of fat processed in the body. Its high level indicates that the body is consuming more calories than it can burn. A high triglyceride level is greatly associated with heart diseases, stroke and diabetes.”

General manager (child health), National Health Mission UP, Dr Ved Prakash said the state government was working on a plan to address the double burden of malnutrition.