Do kids get type 2 diabetes?

Dear Dr. Bob,

My doctor just told me that my son has diabetes, type 2 not type 1. Do kids get type 2 diabetes?

Thank you,

Dear Sue,

You are right. Most kids with Diabetes have type 1, which is Insulin Dependent Diabetes. That is where the insulin producing cells in the pancreas get destroyed and the person requires insulin shots. Childhood type 2 diabetes is much less common and in fact in my 25 years of practice, I have only had a handful of patients with this. The concern is that it is actually on the rise in this country. There is certainly a genetic component and when unmasked due to social, behavioral and environment factors, that kid is struck with it.

Puberty, with the hormone changes, is the most common time that type 2 diabetes develops, but it has been seen at pre-school age. Obesity is another huge factor (no pun intended). Too much fatty tissue leads to a resistance to the insulin that is produced by the pancreas.

Screening for this disease should only be done on those that are at risk. This typically is a kid over 10 years old who is greater than 120 percent over their ideal weight and who has a family history of diabetes or of an ethnic background that is commonly more susceptible, such as African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian or Pacific Islander.

It is important to get these children treated because diabetes affects the whole body including, the blood vessels, heart, kidneys, eyes and the nerves. Please follow your doctor's advice and especially have your child lose weight and become physically active. If he or she is overweight, increased physical activity and weight-loss may actually solve the problem.

Please submit all "Ask Dr. Bob" questions to [email protected]. Past articles can be viewed at www.roberthagenmd.com.