Type 2 Diabetes in Children

Condition Basics

What is type 2 diabetes in children?

Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which a person has too much sugar (glucose) in their blood. Experts believe the disease develops in children the same way it does in adults. Insulin is a hormone that helps the body's cells use sugar for energy. Without insulin, the sugar can't get into the cells to do its work. It stays in the blood instead. This can cause high blood sugar levels.

Over time, high blood sugar can damage a child's eyes, heart, blood vessels, nerves, and kidneys. High blood sugar also makes a child more likely to get serious illnesses or infections.

In the past, doctors believed that type 2 diabetes was an adult disease and that type 1 diabetes was a children's disease. Now, more and more children are getting type 2 diabetes.

What are the symptoms?

Most children with type 2 diabetes don't have symptoms when the disease is first found. If a child has symptoms, they usually are mild. They may include having to urinate more often, feeling a little more thirsty than normal, and losing a little weight for no clear reason.

How is it diagnosed?

A simple blood test is usually all that is needed to diagnose diabetes. A doctor may do this test if your child has risk factors for diabetes, such as being overweight. Some children are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes when they have a blood or urine test for some other reason.

How is type 2 diabetes in children treated?

Treatment of type 2 diabetes in children focuses on keeping blood sugar levels within a target range. To reach this target range, your child needs to eat healthy meals with the right portion size and get some exercise each day. Treatment also may include medicine.

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Information about Type 2 Diabetes in Children

Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

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