Key Takeaways
- Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in adolescents, largely due to rising obesity rates and lower physical activity.
- Early detection is critical, as symptoms can be mild or overlooked and require blood testing for diagnosis.
- Healthy lifestyle changes, along with proper medical care and discount diabetic supplies, can help manage and prevent complications.
In the past, type 2 diabetes was usually diagnosed in adults 40 years old and older. Now, around 151,000 people who are 20 years old or younger have type 2 diabetes. Learn more about the increasing frequency of type 2 diabetes in adolescence and what can be done about it.
Why Type 2 Diabetes Is Increasing in Adolescents
Most adolescents with diabetes used to have type 1. Research reveals that type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents has become a growing problem in the United States. Contributing factors may include rising rates of childhood obesity and low levels of physical activity. Exposure to diabetes in utero may also be a contributing factor. Researchers are studying these factors and others to learn more about the increase in children with type 2 diabetes.
Risk Factors and Diagnosis
Young people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are usually between the ages of 10 and 19, have a strong history of type 2 diabetes in the family, and are obese. Adolescents with the disease often have poor glycemic control (A1C = 10% – 12%). Teens with type 2 diabetes belong to all ethnic groups, but it is more commonly seen in non-white groups, with the highest occurrence among American Indian youth.
It can be difficult to detect type 2 diabetes in children, especially if they have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, and because blood tests are required for diagnosis. With type 2 diabetes, the pancreas may produce normal insulin levels, but the cells become resistant to it.
Symptoms to Watch For
Possible symptoms in children include increased appetite, extreme thirst, weight loss, and increased urination. Another sign is acanthosis nigricans, a skin condition characterized by a patch of dark, rippled, velvety skin on the back of the neck, underarms, or between the toes or fingers.
If your child experiences these symptoms, tell your family doctor and inquire about blood and urine testing. Specific blood and urine tests are used to diagnose type 2 diabetes. If your child is overweight, inquire about a fasting blood sugar test beginning at age 10. If there is a history of diabetes in your family, let your child’s doctor know.
Managing Type 2 Diabetes in Teens
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three children born in the U.S. is likely to develop type 2 diabetes sometime in their lifetime unless they improve their diets and get more exercise. Type 2 diabetes can also increase the likelihood that children develop long-term complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, and vision loss.
Medical treatment and a diabetes self-management plan that includes glucose monitoring, proper nutrition, and regular exercise can help keep a child’s blood sugar levels under control.
If your child has type 2 diabetes, certain diabetes supplies are essential for proper self-management. Have your child review the use of these supplies with their health care team. Make sure your child understands how to store supplies at the proper temperature and dispose of them safely. Keep diabetes testing kits and insulin supplies available at your adolescent’s school, job, and any other place they spend time.
Talk to your child’s school nurse, teachers, coach, and other adults about their condition and what to do in case of an emergency. Have a plan wherever your child goes to help ensure their well-being.
Daily Health Considerations
Your adolescent may experience certain day-to-day effects associated with diabetes, including thirst, headache, frequent urination, and dry skin. Discuss these symptoms with your child’s doctor and find out the best ways to treat them.
Have your child learn how to check their feet for sores, blisters, swelling, and other irregularities that should be reported to the doctor immediately. Encourage your child to always wear well-fitted shoes, including slippers at home and water shoes at the beach or pool.
Treatment Options
The first step after your child is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is typically lifestyle changes, such as cutting back on sugars and fats, eating fewer calories, and exercising for at least a half hour each day. Serve healthy foods, encourage your child to participate in physical activity, and learn more about diabetes as a family.
If lifestyle changes are not enough, your child may need to take insulin and/or other drugs such as Metformin or sulfonylurea drugs to keep their blood sugar in control.
Prevention Strategies for Adolescents
To help prevent type 2 diabetes in adolescence, encourage a healthy diet with low-fat dairy, lean meats and fish, whole grains, and fruits and vegetables. Encourage your child to exercise and lose excess weight to help reduce the risk of other health complications.
Work together as a family to get your child on the road to a healthier, longer life.
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