Diabetes Cases Surge Among Indonesian Youth and Gen Z, Driven by More Than Just Sweet Foods

Indonesia continues to face significant challenges in tackling diabetes. According to a report by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the number of people with diabetes in Indonesia in 2024 reached approximately 20.4 million adults aged 20-79 years. This figure places Indonesia fifth globally for the highest number of diabetes sufferers and the highest in Southeast Asia. Beyond the high case numbers, the trend of diabetes is also shifting. The disease, previously more common in those over 40, is now increasingly diagnosed in the productive age group, even among teenagers. Associate Professor Dr. Do Dinh Tung, Director of Duc Giang General Hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam, stated that diabetes is now more frequently found in younger age groups. “Diabetes is increasingly found in younger age groups. Currently, the disease is often diagnosed in those aged 20-30 years, even teenagers,” he said. One factor suspected to contribute to this trend is the change in diet and lifestyle among the younger generation. Fast food consumption remains high. Fast foods such as instant noodles, burgers, french fries, and fried chicken are still favourite menus for many young people. These types of food generally contain high amounts of calories, fat, sugar, and refined carbohydrates. This combination has the potential to trigger blood sugar spikes if consumed excessively. In a single serving of a burger, for instance, the sugar content comes not only from the sauce but also from the bread, the flour coating on the meat, and other accompaniments. Therefore, limiting fast food consumption is considered helpful in maintaining metabolic health. A fondness for sugary drinks is also a concern. Based on a Jakpat survey in April 2026, 67% of respondents from Gen Z admitted to consuming coffee in the last six months, followed by tea (65%), juice (47%), and soft drinks (30%). Associate Professor of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Rasa Kazlauskaite, said sugary drinks can complicate blood sugar control. According to her, soda, sweet tea, and even fruit juice generally contain high sugar but minimal protein, fat, or fibre, thus failing to provide a lasting feeling of fullness. As an alternative, she suggests increasing water consumption. If plain water becomes boring, it can be infused with pieces of fresh fruit for a natural flavour enhancer. However, the cause is not solely excessive sugar. Although sugar consumption is often linked to diabetes, experts assess that the disease is not caused by a single factor. Diabetes is a multifactorial disease influenced by various elements, ranging from genetic history and unhealthy eating patterns to lack of physical activity, poor sleep quality, and prolonged stress. Excessive sugar consumption can increase the risk, especially when combined with an unhealthy lifestyle. These conditions can trigger insulin resistance, which eventually develops into diabetes. Non-sweet foods can also trigger blood sugar spikes. Many people assume blood sugar spikes are only caused by sweet-tasting foods. However, this assumption is not entirely correct. Preventive cardiologist Stephen Devries said starchy foods that do not taste sweet can actually raise blood glucose levels significantly. “Many people do not realise that starchy foods, which often do not taste sweet at all, can actually raise blood glucose levels more significantly than sweet foods,” he said. The starchy food group includes potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, and peas. However, this does not mean these foods must be avoided entirely. Consumption of starchy foods can still be part of a healthy diet if combined with sources of lean protein, fibre, and healthy fats to help keep blood sugar levels stable. Seeing the rising trend of diabetes cases in young people, maintaining a proper diet, engaging in regular physical activity, getting adequate sleep, and managing stress are important steps to reduce the risk of the disease early on.