Paediatric audit shows rise in type 2 diabetes

By Editor
20th August 2018
Paediatrics, Type 2 diabetes

Latest figures show a rise in children and young people with type 2 diabetes in England and Wales up from 507 to 715 in four years.

They came from the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit 2016-17 Care Processes and Outcomes report produced by the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH).

More than three-quarters of the youngsters were also obese. Nearly half of the children and young people with type 2 diabetes in 2016-17 were black or Asian, while they were also more likely to girls and live in a deprived area.

The report concluded: “The key successes identified include the continuing downward trend in national HbA1c, and increases in the percentages of children and young people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes receiving recommended health checks. However, the audit continues to identify variation in care and outcomes at unit, regional, and national level. Poorer outcomes continue to be associated with non-white ethnicity, adolescence, female gender, and living in a deprived area.

“Inequalities in treatment deprivation observed previously were also shown to be widening, with children and young people in the least deprived areas being even more likely to be using an insulin pump compared to those in the most deprived areas than in previous audit cycles. Patient and PDU factors responsible for the inequalities identified by the audit must be explored and addressed as part of local and national improvement strategies to improve diabetes management and outcomes.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: “We’ve invested billions in public health services and have already removed the equivalent of 45 million kilograms of sugar from soft drinks every year. Our new childhood obesity plan will now get children exercising more in schools, and reduce their exposure to sugary and fatty foods.”

Clinical advisor at Diabetes UK Kathryn Kirchner said: “These figures are a stark reminder that we have a collective responsibility to push for the actions outlined in the most recent chapter of the childhood obesity plan, including clearer and more consistent food labelling.”

To access the report, click here.

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