Once considered a disease of overweight, middle-aged people, the incidence of type 2 diabetes is rising rapidly in children and adolescents worldwide, with the highest prevalence in those of American-Indian, Hispanic, African-American and Asian descent.
This alarming incidence and prevalence of diabetes has been attributed to increasing obesity among younger people. Children of obese parents have a 66% risk of becoming obese before adulthood—falling to 50% if only one parent is obese. The prevalence of obesity (body mass index [BMI] exceeding the 95th percentile) among US children and adolescents aged 6-19 years has jumped from approximately 4% in 1963 to 15% in 2000.
Some children or adolescents with type 2 diabetes may show no symptoms at all. In others, symptoms may be similar to those of type 1 diabetes. A youth may feel very tired, thirsty or nauseated, and have to urinate often. Other symptoms may include weight loss, blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of wounds or sores. Some may present with a vaginal yeast infection, or burning on urination due to a yeast infection. Some may have extreme elevation of the blood glucose levels associated with severe dehydration and coma.
As with adults, healthy eating along with portion control and increased physical activity are cornerstones of treating and managing type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.
If this is not sufficient to normalize blood glucose levels, glucose-lowering medication and/or insulin therapy are used, as well. There are a variety of different diabetes medications—some that are taken orally, and some taken by injection (or via a subcutaneous pump), such as insulin.
