Mounjaro: Diabetes is secretly making children its victims, can the new drug Mounjaro become a new hope?

Today's changing lifestyles have profoundly impacted the health of children and teenagers around the world. Diseases like obesity and diabetes, once seen only in adults, are now affecting younger children as well. Recent research in the United States has offered a new solution. Researchers say a drug called Mounjaro can help control type 2 diabetes in children up to 10 years of age.

Why is diabetes increasing in children?
Type 2 diabetes was previously called "adult-onset diabetes," meaning it was only found in older adults. However, the picture has changed in the last two decades. According to the US Department of Health (CDC), in 2002, approximately 9 children out of every 100,000 had type 2 diabetes. By 2018, this figure had doubled to 18.

If this rate continues, experts believe that by 2060, the number of children with diabetes in the United States could increase from 28,000 to approximately 220,000. This poses a significant challenge not only to families but to the entire healthcare system.

The main reasons behind this increasing risk are:

High intake of junk food and sugary drinks

Lack of physical activity

Prolonged time spent on mobile phones and TV

Rising rates of childhood obesity

How does this drug work?

Monjaro is a GLP-1-based medication. This drug activates hormones in the body that regulate blood sugar levels and reduce appetite. This also helps with weight loss.

A recent study found that Monjaro significantly reduced HbA1C levels (average blood sugar levels) in children.

Controlled BMI (body mass index).

And also improved other heart-related risk factors.

Most importantly, its side effects remained largely the same as those previously observed in adults. This means it may prove relatively safe for children as well.

Don't Ignore These Symptoms
It is crucial to identify type 2 diabetes in children early. Some common symptoms include:

Frequent thirst and urination
Fatigue and weakness
Sudden weight loss or gain
Delayed healing of wounds or injuries
Recurrent infections
Blurred vision
Parents should not take these signs lightly and should immediately consult a doctor.

Timely Treatment and Prevention Are Essential
Untreated childhood diabetes increases the risk of several serious diseases later in life, such as:

Heart disease
Kidney failure
Nerve damage
Impact on eyesight
That's why experts believe it's crucial to control diabetes in children at an early stage.

The risk is growing in India, too.
Although this research is based on the United States, India is not immune to this. In recent years, obesity and diabetes have been rapidly increasing among children and adolescents in India. The easy availability of junk food and fast food in urban areas, lack of sports, and poor lifestyles are pushing children towards diabetes.

Easy ways to prevent diabetes
Adopting a healthy lifestyle is more important than medication to prevent diabetes in children. A few simple steps can help:

Encouraging children to engage in at least one hour of physical activity or sports daily

Keeping children away from packaged food, junk food, and sugary drinks

Providing balanced and nutritious home-cooked meals

Developing healthy eating and exercise habits with the family

Getting children's blood sugar tested periodically

Research on Monjaro has raised new hopes in the medical world. If this drug is officially approved for children, it would be a breakthrough in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, experts also believe that lifestyle modifications, along with medication, are the real solution.

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