Diabetes Rates Up Among Children

More than 180 million people worldwide have diabetes, the World Health Organization says. That number is expected to double by 2030. Diabetes causes serious health problems, such as blindness, kidney damage and high blood pressure.

After asthma, diabetes is the second most common long-term disease in children. This means there will continue to be lots of diabetes in adults as these children grow up.

A new study looked at more than 2,400 cases of diabetes in children (under age 20). All cases were newly diagnosed in 2002 and 2003. The study was funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

These researchers are working to figure out the risk of developing diabetes in different groups of children based on their age, sex, race or ethnicity, and where they live. The study also looked at differences in case numbers for the two major kinds of diabetes – types 1 and 2.

Most diabetic children under age 10 had type 1 diabetes. This was true for boys and girls from all races and parts of the country. The highest rate of type 1 diabetes was among non-Hispanic, white children. Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander youth had significantly lower rates.

The pattern for type 2 diabetes was the reverse. It was highest for American Indians and African-Americans. Non-Hispanic, white youth had lower rates of type 2.

No children under age 5 had type 2 diabetes. Fewer than 20 children from ages 5 to 9 had this disease, but cases of type 2 increased with age. The rate rose more than 10-fold during the teenage years. Minorities between ages 15 and 19 had the highest rates of type 2.

Both involve the hormone insulin, which is made by the pancreas. Insulin helps the body move sugar out of the bloodstream and into the tissues. But type 1 and type 2 diabetes cause problems in this process in different ways.

• In type 1 diabetes, the immune system begins to attack the body's own cells. The cells that make insulin are destroyed. Type 1 diabetes is an inherited disease, so people with a family history of it are at greatest risk.

• In type 2, the problem is that the body's insulin isn't able to do its job well. Type 2 diabetes mellitus used to be called "adult-onset diabetes" because it was so rare in children and teenagers. But during the last 15 years, it has increased dramatically in children. Type 2 diabetes is closely associated with obesity.

To help prevent type 2 diabetes, make healthy eating and exercise a central part of your life and your family's life. Set a good example for your children by eating healthier and exercising more. Some healthy eating habits you should encourage in yourself and your family: 

o        Try not to skip meals.

o        Eat at least five servings of fruits and non-starchy vegetables each day.

o        Limit foods with lots of fat or sugar, such as fast food, pizza, fatty meats, cakes, cookies, candy, soda and juices.

o        Eat meals together as a family whenever possible.

o        Do not watch television while eating.

o        Try to do something active every day for at least 30 minutes. For example, walk whenever possible, and take the stairs instead of the elevator.

o        Plan family activities that involve exercise, such as bicycling, dancing, hiking and swimming.

o        Limit television, computer and video game time to an average of one hour per day.

By being more aware of what we eat and increasing our activity levels, we can reduce the risk of health problems caused by obesity and overweight. Type 2 diabetes is one of the most important of these problems. Remember that any increase in children with diabetes or other chronic diseases is a concern beyond childhood. Any chronic condition in a child will become a chronic disease in an adult.

Does your child have diabetes? Which type? What are you doing to treat it? 

Nearly 21 million Americans suffer from diabetes, and as anyone who has been affected by the disorder knows, it is about much more than a statistic: it means a new way of life. Diabetes: A plan for living is a special report from Harvard Medical School that will help you learn how to better understand and manage your diabetes, including type 1 and type 2, as well as other variations of the disease. This report will show you that it’s not just possible to live with diabetes; it’s possible to live well.