Ahmedabad: An increasing number of children are suffering from diabetes due to stress since parents' pressure them to excel in both academics and extra curricular activities, says a medical expert. "Tension is the main cause for diabetes. Tension combined with fast food affects even kids in the second standard," diabetologist Sanjeev Phatak said here on Tuesday at the launch of Sanofi-Aventis' disposable insulin pen.

"In the name of encouraging their wards to play sports, parents pressure them to become Steffi Graf. This builds up tension in the child, making him prone to diabetes," he added. There are about 33 million diabetes patients in India.

Sanofi-Aventis' new pre-filled disposable insulin pen called SoloSTAR can be used for the treatment of hyperglycemia in Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. It is priced at Rs.884 in Gujarat.

Susheel Umesh, senior director of Sanofi-Aventis' cardio-metabolism business Unit, said: "SoloSTAR is an easy-to-use insulin pen that enables a patient to carry it easily in his pocket, especially while travelling. The pen has been designed on the basis of inputs from diabetic patients, their nurses and doctors."

Phatak said "Gujarat is genetically prone to diabetes."

People should not shy away from using insulin, he said. "It is not a medicine. It is just giving back to the body what it needs and cannot produce." IANS