UK South Asian children found to be most at risk of type two diabetes

The Child Heart and Health Study (Chase), which was funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the Wellcome Trust, was based on the blood samples of 4,796 children aged nine and ten in Birmingham and Leicester.
 
The tests revealed that children from South Asian families had higher levels of blood markers associated with type two diabetes compared to white children, indicating that they are risk of developing the disease in later life. Black African-Caribbean children were also shown to be at a higher risk, but on a much smaller scale. The disease usually develops in adults aged 40 and above.
 
BHF associate medical director Dr Mike Knapton said: "The prevalence of heart disease and diabetes is disproportionately high in South Asian people, and this research shows that signs of differences in risk are already apparent in young children."
 
South Asian people in the UK are about three times more likely to develop type two diabetes than white Europeans, according to BHF statistics. The study did not explore the reasons behind these differences and researchers are highlighting the need for more research into ethnic variation among sufferers. 
 
Chase lead researcher Professor Peter Whincup said: "We know that being physically active, eating healthily and avoiding being overweight help all children to lower their long-term risks of type two diabetes. But we need to do more research to find out which particular factors make Asian and African-Caribbean people more likely to develop diabetes, so that we can establish the most effective measures for preventing the disease from an early stage in life."
 
Whincup also highlighted the need to take a life course approach when tackling health inequalities. "We need to intervene early to divert these children off the road to ill-health," he added.