(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Kos Diabetes Group: Type 2 Diabetes in Children [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-04-28 Until recently, young children and teens almost never got Type 2 diabetes, which is why it was called adult-onset diabetes. Now, about one-third of American youth are overweight, and the increasing number of children with obesity has led to more cases of Type 2 diabetes in younger people, some as young as 10 years old. Diabetes is expected to surge dramatically in young people over the next several decades. Researchers estimate that in 2060, there could be as many as 220,000 people under age 20 with Type 2 diabetes, an increase of nearly 700%, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released in December 2022. x YouTube Video Researchers don't fully understand why some children develop Type 2 diabetes and others don't, even if they have similar risk factors. However, it's clear that certain factors increase the risk, including: Weight. Being overweight is a strong risk factor for Type 2 diabetes in children. The more fatty tissue children have — especially inside and between the muscle and skin around the abdomen — the more resistant their bodies' cells become to insulin. Inactivity. The less active children are, the greater their risk of Type 2 diabetes. Diet. Eating red meat and processed meat and drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes. Family history. Children's risk of Type 2 diabetes increases if they have a parent or sibling with the disease. Race or ethnicity. Although it's unclear why, certain people — including Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Asian American people — are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. Age and sex. Many children develop Type 2 diabetes in their early teens, but it may occur at any age. Adolescent girls are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than adolescent boys. Maternal gestational diabetes. Children born to women who had gestational diabetes during pregnancy have a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Low birth weight or preterm birth. Having a low birth weight is associated with a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Babies born prematurely — before 39 to 42 weeks' gestation —have a greater risk of Type 2 diabetes. A metabolic syndrome or polycystic ovarian syndrome. When certain conditions occur with obesity, they are associated with insulin resistance and can increase the risk of diabetes , heart disease and stroke. A combination of conditions including any of the following are often labeled as metabolic syndrome: High blood pressure Low levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the "good" cholesterol High triglycerides High blood sugar levels Large waist size Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects young females after puberty. PCOS is caused by an imbalance of hormones, resulting in signs such as weight gain, irregular menstrual periods, and excess face and body hair. People with PCOS often have problems with metabolism that can result in insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. Treatment for Type 2 diabetes will depend on the child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is. The goal of treatment is to keep blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. Treatment options include: A healthy diet Weight loss, if needed Regular exercise Good hygiene Oral medicines, if needed Insulin replacement therapy (under the direction of the child's healthcare provider) Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels Complications Just like adults, Type 2 diabetes can affect nearly every organ in a child's body, including the blood vessels, nerves, eyes and kidneys. The long-term complications of poorly managed Type 2 diabetes develop gradually over many years, eventually, becoming severe or even life-threatening. Complications of Type 2 diabetes related to high blood sugar include: High cholesterol Heart and blood vessel disease Stroke Nerve damage Kidney disease Eye disease, including blindness Keeping the child's blood sugar level within their target range most of the time can dramatically reduce the risk of these complications. You can also help by: Teaching the child the importance of healthy eating and participating in regular physical activity. Offer the child foods low in fat and calories. Focus on fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Try to eat a large variety to prevent boredom. Encourage the child to become active. Sign them up for a sports team or dance lessons. Scheduling regular visits with the child's diabetes treatment team Prevention Parents can do a lot to help their kids prevent Type 2 diabetes. Set a new normal as a family—healthy changes become habits more easily when everyone does them together and the lifestyle choices that can help prevent Type 2 diabetes in children can do the same for adults. Here are some tips to get started: Drink more water and fewer sugary drinks. Eat more fruits and vegetables. Give your favorite meals a healthy makeover. Shop for food together and get kids involved in making healthier meals. Shop on a full stomach so you’re not tempted to buy unhealthy food. Teach your kids to read food labels to understand which foods are healthiest. Have meals together as a family as often as you can. Don’t insist kids clean their plates. Don’t put serving dishes on the table. Serve small portions; let kids ask for seconds. Eat slowly—it takes at least 20 minutes to start feeling full. Eat at the dinner table only, not in front of the TV or computer. Reward kids with praise instead of food. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/4/28/2166355/-Kos-Diabetes-Group-Type-2-Diabetes-in-Children Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/