running the risk of getting diabetes.

They are growing fat watching TV and eating junk food, instead of getting exercise and munching natural goodies.

They could become part of the growing number of victims of the dangerous disease, health officials warned yesterday.

The experts sounded their warning as Diabetes Awareness Month got underway. A highlight of the month will be Keep Bermuda Fit Day on Friday, when residents will be encouraged to start exercising more.

Government nutritionist Mrs. Betsy Baillie revealed the number of overweight or obese 15-year-olds on the Island had risen about 3.5 percent in 10 years.

More than 40 percent of 15-year-olds were now too fat, she said. The general increase in overweight kids aged 10 to 15 meant more cases of young people with diabetes.

The disease, which strikes about 10 percent of Bermuda residents, affects the amount of energy available to the body. Symptoms are abnormal thirst, frequent urination, rapid weight loss, tiredness, slow-healing infections and blurred vision.

Health Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness said diabetes was now one of the fastest-growing health problems.

The cost of caring for sufferers in the US had risen 350 percent in five years.

"The saddest thing is that young people -- and I'm talking about young people in their late teens and early 20s -- are today at risk, facing a problem that was once upon a time confined to people aged 40 or over.

"Because of the increasingly poor eating habits of people in this Country, far too many of our Bermudian youngsters are being diagnosed with full-blown diabetes.

"Another terrible fact about diabetes is that although early diagnosis is the only way to curb this chronic and very costly disease, at least one person out of every two who have the disease have no idea they've got it.

"If diabetes is diagnosed early, the treatment may only involve some simple dietary changes. If it is diagnosed too late, it may be impossible to do anything about such devastating complications as heart and kidney disease, blindness and the possibility of arms and legs having to be amputated.'' Everyone should get tested for the disease at their doctor's office, he said.

People could avoid getting the illness by watching what they eat and exercising every day.

"We are making life so easy for ourselves that we are making ourselves victims of our own laziness.

"I don't mean that we should all become marathon runners. Whether you do a little exercise every morning when you get up, or go for a walk every day doesn't really matter.'' Mrs. Baillie said kids spent far too much time watching TV, and not enough time getting exercise -- including at school.

They often had a poor diet -- skipping breakfast and lunch and eating junk food snacks on the run.

Parents needed to plan healthy meals and organise family activities, she said.

Bermudians had to cut down on mayonnaise and butter and eat more fresh fruit and vegetables.