What Is Type 2 Diabetes?
You've probably heard diabetes and high blood sugar mentioned together. Here's what happens. Your digestive system breaks down carbohydrates into a type of sugar called glucose. Your pancreas creates a hormone, known as insulin, that moves glucose from your blood into your cells, where it’s used for fuel.
In type 2 diabetes, the cells in your child's body don’t respond to the insulin, and glucose builds up in her bloodstream. This is called insulin resistance. Eventually, the sugar levels in her body get too high for it to handle. That could lead to other conditions in the future, like heart disease, blindness, and kidney failure.
Who Gets It?
Type 2 diabetes is most likely to affect kids who are:
GirlsOverweightHave a family history of diabetesAmerican Indian, African-American, Asian, or Hispanic/LatinoHave a problem called insulin resistance
The single biggest cause of type 2 diabetes in children is extra weight. In the U.S., nearly 1 out of every 3 children is overweight. Once a child gets too heavy, she’s twice as likely to get diabetes.
One or more of these things may contribute to extra weight or obesity:
Unhealthy eatingLack of physical activityFamily members (alive or dead) who've been overweightRarely, a hormone problem or other medical condition
As with adults, type 2 diabetes is more likely to affect children who carry extra weight around the middle.
What Are the Symptoms?
At first, there may be no symptoms. Over time, you may notice:
Unexplained weight lossHungry or thirsty a lot, even after eatingDry mouthPeeing a lotFatigueBlurred visionHeavy breathingSlow healing of sores or cutsItchy skinNumbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Take your child to the doctor if you notice any of these symptoms
How Is It Treated?
The first move is to take your child to a doctor. He can tell if she’s overweight based on her age, weight, and height. He’ll test her blood sugar to see if she has diabetes or prediabetes. If she does have diabetes, it may take a few extra steps to find out if it's type 1 or type 2.
Can You Prevent It?
The same steps used to treat type 2 diabetes in children can also prevent it. Reduce fats and sweets in your child's diet. Make sure she getsphysical activity each day. Studies show that exercise has a dramatic effect on reducing insulin resistance. These are two easy ways to help your child get down to and stay at a healthy weight and normal blood sugar levels.
Special Concerns
Children -- especially teens -- may have a tough time making changes to prevent or manage type 2 diabetes. Here are some ways you can help:
Talk with your child honestly about health and weight. Be supportive. Encourage her to speak up about her concerns.Don't separate your child for special treatment. Your entire family can benefit from making changes in diet and activity.Make changes slowly. Just as it took time for diabetes to develop, it will take time to achieve better health.Do more activities your child enjoys. Lower the amount of time your family spends watching TV or playing video games.If your child refuses to follow her plan, try to find out why. Teens, for example, are dealing with hormone changes, demands on their time, peer pressure, and other things that seem more important to them than their health.Set small, easy-to-reach goals. Plan special rewards for your child when she meets each goal. Then move on to the next.Talk to a diabetes educator, doctor, dietitian, or other diabetes professional for more ideas on how to help your child become healthier.
By working together, you, your child, and her diabetes health care team can be sure she remains healthy for years to come.
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