RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Type 2 diabetes, once synonymous with the elderly, is now starting to threaten the younger generation. Indonesian's Vice Minister of Health, Dante Saksono Harbuwono, revealed that cases of type 2 diabetes are increasingly being found in adolescents, even among junior high school students.

He made the statement during his remarks at the Canisius Health Expo 2026 at Kanisius College in Jakarta on Sunday, May 25, 2026. According to him, this shift in disease trends is not only influenced by genetic factors, but also by drastic changes in daily lifestyle.

"Previously, type 2 diabetes was synonymous with those aged 40 to 50 and above. But today, and this is what makes me uneasy as a doctor, we are starting to see it appearing in adolescents, even in some cases as young as junior high school," Dante said.

He highlighted the habits of today's young generation, which include minimal physical activity, high screen time, lack of sleep, and excessive consumption of sugar and ultra-processed foods. Furthermore, the mental stress faced by adolescents tends to develop more rapidly and more aggressively than that of adults.

Facing this threat, the Vice Minister of Health emphasized that the main solution is not just medication, but rather changing habits starting at home. "This is not meant to scare people, but prevention must start now, such as adopting a healthy lifestyle," Dante said.

He stated that the government has responded to this issue through the Free Health Checkup program, which reaches 25 million schoolchildren, and the implementation of the "nutri-level" program, a system of A to D labels on food and beverage packaging to warn the public about sugar levels.