PETALING JAYA: Consultant paediatrician Datuk Dr Amar Singh HSS has warned that developing Type 2 diabetes during adolescence exposes patients to high blood sugar levels for a much longer period, increasing the risk of serious health complications much earlier in life.
He said the growing number of adolescents diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes reflected the sharp rise in childhood obesity in Malaysia.
Type 2 diabetes was once largely associated with adults, but last week, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad told Parliament it is now being detected in children as young as 14, reflecting a worrying rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among younger Malaysians.
“The rise in adolescent Type 2 diabetes mirrors the rising rates of childhood obesity in Malaysia. The trend has become increasingly evident in clinical practice over the past two decades,” Dr Amar told Twentytwo13.
“These adolescents develop hypertension earlier and face a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes at a younger age. Many will also require insulin therapy earlier.
“Complications such as kidney disease, vision damage and nerve damage could also develop much sooner than in people diagnosed later in adulthood.”
He said data from the Health Ministry’s National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) showed childhood obesity rising from 5.4 per cent in 2006 to 6.1 per cent in 2011, 11.9 per cent in 2015 and 14.8 per cent in 2019.
The NHMS 2024 findings showed that 28 per cent of school-aged children and teenagers are now outside a healthy weight range, with 14.4 per cent classified as overweight and 13.6 per cent as obese.
The World Obesity Federation estimates that close to three million Malaysian children aged five to 19 were overweight or living with obesity in 2025.
Besides excess weight, Dr Amar said genetics also played a role, with children who have close family members living with Type 2 diabetes facing a higher risk of developing the condition.
Lifestyle factors remain major contributors.
“A sedentary lifestyle, excessive screen time and a high intake of ultra-processed and sugar-rich foods are major risk factors,” he said.
To reverse the trend, Dr Amar said prevention must begin early, with parents adopting healthy lifestyles themselves so they could model good eating habits and regular physical activity for their children.
He also called for changes to the environment to support healthier living.
“We need to develop many more green lungs in our cities to encourage children, adolescents and adults to engage in outdoor activities,” he said.
He added that Malaysia should also reduce its dependence on private cars and expand the use of public transport, as walking and cycling could help increase daily physical activity and reduce obesity rates.
Dr Amar also stressed the importance of monitoring children’s growth from an early age so those becoming overweight could receive timely intervention.
“We must not miss the window for early intervention and wait until they develop Type 2 diabetes,” he said.
He urged parents to stop viewing Type 2 diabetes as a disease that affects only adults.
“This is not about parental guilt; it is about the reality that we live in an environment that heavily promotes calorie-dense, nutrient-poor foods and sedentary habits,” he said.
“If your teenager is diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at 14, by the time they reach their early 30s – the prime of their life – they could be facing serious health complications. Act today to prevent this.”
On Monday, senior nutritionist Dr Tee E. Siong told Twentytwo13 that Malaysia already has many of the policies needed to tackle youth Type 2 diabetes, but must implement them more consistently.
