Girls aged five to nine are developing type-2 diabetes , figures show ( file image ) Girls aged five to nine are developing type-2 diabetes , figures show . There have been seven cases in England and Wales of five to nine-year-old girls with the condition , according to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health 's National Paediatric and Diabetes Audit . Doctors said they have treated cases of boys aged seven , though none were recorded in the audit . There were a further 146 cases in girls aged ten to 14 and 64 cases in boys of the same age group , bringing risk of damage to eyes and kidneys , as well as heart attacks . The illness most commonly occurs in the over 40s and prior to the year 2000 , no case had ever been recorded in the under 18s . But academics have recorded a sudden increase over the past two decades which is almost certainly down to obesity , our sugary diets and lack of exercise . They have also noted that the illness advances much more rapidly compared to adults and they quickly develop complications . By the time they have reached their early teens , a number have suffered damage to their eyes and kidneys and are expected to have heart attacks in their 30s . The document also warns that there are huge variations in the care offered to children and young people with diabetes – most of whom have type 1 . Although the overall standards of treatment have improved , those living in the more deprived areas are less likely to have vital check ups . Just under 27,000 children , teenagers and young adults have diabetes of whom more than 97 per cent have type 1 , which is believed to be genetic . Dr Justin Warner , clinical lead for the audit , said : 'On the one hand the picture is positive ; the quality of care for children and young people with diabetes is improving and we 're getting better at ensuring care processes are met . 'Yet the challenge we face is also growing , with more children being diagnosed with diabetes and some displaying early signs of potentially serious long term health problems . 'This is a lifelong condition where tight overall diabetes control is important to reduce the risk of complications later in life . 'This requires a close partnership between healthcare professionals delivering care and children and families with diabetes . ' Last year academics revealed that they were treating children as young as seven with type 2 diabetes . Professor Tim Barrett , a consultant in paediatric diabetes at Birmingham Children 's Hospital said a boy had been referred to him aged seven years 11 months , the youngest he 'd seen . The illness most commonly occurs in the over 40s and prior to the year 2000 , no case had ever been recorded in the under 18s . But academics have recorded a sudden increase over the past two decades which is almost certainly down to obesity , our sugary diets and lack of exercise .
Seven girls in England and Wales aged five to nine developing diabetes . A further 146 cases in girls aged 10 to 14 and 64 cases of boys same age . Illness advances quicker in children and brings risk to eyes and kidneys . Before under 18s there was no recorded cases of type-2 diabetes in 2000 .