Child Abuse Victims Twice More Likely to Develop Type 2 Diabetes, High Blood and Other Health Problems: Study

A recent British study finds that adults who were abused either physically, emotionally, or sexually as a child were twice as likely to develop type two diabetes mellitus.

Furthermore, the findings suggest that these survivors of childhood abuse have 42 percent of developing high blood pressure and 71 percent of suffering from cardiovascular diseases.

Child Abuse and Multiple Health Problems

Researchers from the University of Birmingham studied almost 250,000 people using medical records dating between 1995 and 2018. The names of the patients were kept anonymous in the study.

It was revealed that about 80, 657 of the participants were abused in some way during childhood.

Dr. Joht Chandan, the lead author of the study, said that their findings suggest a significant but preventable concern of cardio-metabolic disease, considering the prevalence of childhood maltreatment around the world.

He adds that the findings are particularly evident within the United Kingdom, where conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes pose an increasing hardship on the health service.

The researchers call on officials to form a population-based program to prevent not only childhood maltreatment but also the negative consequences it results in. The findings of the study were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Also Read: Brain Scans Reveal How Badly Emotional Abuse Damages Kids

Child Abuse, a Common Problem

According to a spokesperson from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, abuse and neglect can have long-lasting effects on children. Furthermore, not only can it lead to health problems, but it could also result in poor mental health.

The charity campaign from the UK adds that adults who were abused in their childhood may find it more challenging to cope up with stressful situations brought about by growing up, getting a good job, or being a good parent to their own children.

Childhood maltreatment is believed to affect one in four Britons and around 33 percent of people from around the world. NSPCC advocates that child abuse and its effects are preventable. It is never too late to help a child, and it is essential that the community plays a part in this, the organization adds.

The UK government and the NSPCC urge citizens to report any suspicion or witness of child abuse to officials and other concerned parties to effectively work out this rising problem and protect the little ones who are often helpless in these situations.

Is Diabetes Type 2 on the Rise?

Unfortunately, it might be. According to the NHS, there are nearly two million people who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. In some cases, it could be linked to obesity and having an unhealthy lifestyle.

To address this growing problem, the NHS has dedicated itself to the Long-Term Plan, which was announced in January 2019. The plan is committed to deliver better support for patients and to focus on preventive measures so that people who are at risk won't end up with the disease.

According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 1.6 million deaths were directly caused by diabetes in 2016. Furthermore, another 2.2 million deaths were brought about by high blood glucose in 2012.