Powdered milk & cereals may be cause of diabetes

Role of processed diets can take a toll on child's metabolic health

Feeding your children with powdered milk and cereals may make them significantly vulnerable to the risk of diabetes later in life, warned health experts on Wednesday ahead of World Diabetes Day.

India is known as the diabetes capital. The country is home to an estimated 77 million people with diabetes and 25 million prediabetic.

Besides environment and genes, lifestyle factors play a huge role in the onset and progression of the disease. And it begins from the womb, said experts. "If we reduce sugar intake during pregnancy and early life, we are reducing the risk of diabetes, blood pressure, and other metabolic diseases later in life," Dr Ambrish Mithal, Chairman & Head - Endocrinology & Diabetes, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, told IANS.