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What is type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of the disease.
Until recently, type 2 diabetes primarily occurred in adults over the age of 40.
Now, more and more children and teenagers are developing type 2 diabetes.
With type 2 diabetes, the body makes insulin but either doesn't make enough or
the body's cells are unable to use the insulin properly. Type 2 diabetes is
sometimes referred to as a "dual defect" since both problems often occur together.
When this happens, glucose (sugar) stays in the blood and can't be used by the body
for energy. Instead, this extra glucose is excreted in the urine. At the same time,
glucose levels in the blood rise to unhealthy levels. High levels of glucose over
time can cause health problems affecting the heart, blood vessels, nerves, kidneys and eyes.
Are there any warning signs?
According to the American Diabetes Association, children and teenagers over
the age of 10 (or younger if puberty has already occurred) who are
overweight* and have two or more of the following risk factors should be
screened for type 2 diabetes with a blood test ordered by your child's health
care provider.
Risk Factors:
- Family history of type 2 diabetes in a parent, aunt, uncle, brother or sister
- Ethnicity: higher incidence with African-Americans, Hispanic/Latinos, Native Americans, Asians and South Pacific Islanders
- Signs of insulin resistance or conditions associated with insulin resistance (high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or triglycerides, acanthosis nigricans or polycystic ovary syndrome)
(acanthosis nigricans)
* Overweight or at-risk for overweight as determined by
CDC body mass index for age growth charts
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