Diabetes on the rise among those 20 and younger in US
Q: I recently noticed that my 7-year-old daughter has been drinking more water than usual, even though her activity has not increased. A neighbor mentioned that I should have her screened for diabetes. My daughter is not overweight nor does she eat excessive amounts of sugar. Should I take her to her doctor?
A: Hydration is important for adults and children. But anytime children act out of the ordinary, it’s logical to be concerned about their health. You should contact your daughter’s pediatrician or primary health care provider to talk about any changes that may be a sign of a more serious condition.
More than 34 million Americans are living with diabetes. And many of them are children and adolescents. Cases of Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are on the rise among those 20 and younger in the U.S., according to a study last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases among children and teens, and is the result of the body not being able to process sugar, or glucose, properly.
Most of the sugar in people’s bodies comes from the food they eat. When food is digested, sugar enters the bloodstream. Moving sugar from the bloodstream to the body’s cells requires the hormone insulin. People with diabetes lack insulin or are unable to process insulin.
Type 1 diabetes, which is the most common in children, is an autoimmune condition in which the
body no longer produces insulin. The exact cause of Type 1 diabetes is unknown. There’s no cure for Type 1 diabetes, but it can be managed. This type of diabetes is not caused by being overweight, eating too much sugar or not taking part in enough physical activity.
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that also affects the way the body processes sugar, but this type is fueled by obesity. Although Type 2 diabetes occurs more commonly in adults, an increasing number of children are affected due to the obesity epidemic. However, most children do not develop Type 2 diabetes before puberty.
While the exact cause of Type 2 diabetes is unknown, family history and genetics appear to play an important role. Inactivity and excess fat also seem to be important factors. Often, changes in diet and exercise are enough to manage Type 2 diabetes in children. However, oral medications and insulin treatment may be needed for some children.
Although diabetes may not run in your family, it is still possible that your daughter could develop childhood diabetes.
Increased thirst and increased urination are often the first signs that something is amiss. Excess sugar building up in your child’s bloodstream pulls fluid from tissues. As a result, your child becomes thirstier.
Symptoms of Type 1 diabetes tend to develop rapidly in young people; whereas, Type 2 diabetes symptoms develop over time and may be so gradual that you do not notice. Even if your daughter has not exhibited any other signs of diabetes, you should call her pediatrician or health care provider to determine next steps. If your daughter is found to have diabetes, you likely will be referred to a pediatric endocrinologist for ongoing care. As scary as it might sound to have a child diagnosed with diabetes, the condition is manageable, and patients can go on to be active and have good quality of life.
— Ana Creo, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota