Type 2 diabetes in children

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition

Type 2 diabetes was once a condition confined to adults. But type 2 diabetes in children is on the rise, fueled largely by the current obesity epidemic. This increasingly common condition presents special challenges for parents and children alike.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body metabolizes sugar (glucose). Type 2 diabetes in children develops when a child's body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin — a hormone that regulates the absorption of sugar into cells — or when a child's pancreas produces some, but not enough, insulin to maintain a normal blood sugar level. Prediabetes, a precursor to type 2 diabetes, also is a concern. Left untreated, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes is a similar condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.

There's no cure for type 2 diabetes in children, but there's plenty you can do to help your child manage — or prevent — the condition. Encourage your child to eat healthy foods, get plenty of physical activity and maintain a healthy weight. If diet and exercise aren't enough, your child may need oral medication or insulin treatment to manage his or her blood sugar.

Symptoms