Families can play a pivotal role in ensuring children exercise and don’t become obese and predispose themselves to diabetes, doctors said on Tuesday on the eve of World Diabetes Day.

Diabetes is on the rise in the country, especially among younger people. It is a worrying sign because it means people are exposed to the disease for a long time and the chances of them suffering from kidney and cardiac ailments would be high. Diabetes can lead to retina damage as well.

Around 15 years ago, 5-10 per cent of diabetics were below 30, Subhankar Chowdhury, head of the endocrinology department at SSKM Hospital, said.

Now, that percentage is almost 20-25 because of sedentary lifestyle and food habits, Chowdhury said.

Of 100 diabetics, 50 know they have the disease, 25 undergo treatment and 12 have it under control, doctors said.

The international diabetes federation has kept “The family and diabetes” as its broad theme to commemorate World Diabetes Day this year because good habits start at home.

To mark the day, the Bengal chapter of the Diabetes Association of India, and the Research Society for Study of Diabetes in India organises a “Walk for Diabetes” from Victoria Memorial on November 14 every year.

This year, too, the organisations would spread the message of the family’s role in controlling the disease.

“Family is important. Those who have a family history of diabetes fall in the risk group and they should go for regular checks,” Chowdhury said. “Families can encourage children to eat healthy, exercise regularly and maintain their body weight.”

The organisers of Wednesday’s walk have arranged for blue illumination on the exteriors of the Oberoi Grand and the Calcutta Municipal Corporation headquarters.

At another programme on Tuesday, the focus was on the need for diabetics to have their eyes checked at least once a year. “Forty per cent of those with diabetes for five years develop retinopathy. There are no obvious symptoms but eye tests can reveal the problem and one can start taking extra precaution to prevent blindness,” Tushar Kanti Sinha, head of retina services at Disha Eye Hospital said.