This article is from the WebMD News Archive
Diabetes Complications Rising in Kids
Increase in Type 2 Diabetes Brings Rise in High Cholesterol, Kidney Disease
Reviewed by
Louise Chang, MD
May 24, 2007 -- It was once called adult-onset diabetes, but not anymore. Type 2 diabetes is increasing among children and teens, and so are the potentially life-threatening complications that come with the disease, a review of the research suggests.
There is not yet a clear picture of the impact of type 2 diabetes on young people. But the research that has been done suggests a high incidence of serious co-conditions, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and kidney and eye disease.
"The early onset of type 2 diabetes is bringing with it the early onset of the typical complications," review co-author Philip Zeitler, MD, of the University of Colorado, Denver, tells WebMD.
More Hospitalizations
The obesity epidemic has spurred an epidemic of type 2 diabetes in the U.S. among all age groups.
Heart disease, nerve disorders, kidney disease, and eye disease are common, long-term complications of type 2 diabetes in adults.
There are no nationwide figures on type 2 diabetes incidence in children and teens, but it is clear that the numbers are rising.
One recent study found a 176% increase in hospitalizations due to type 2 diabetes among children between 1997 and 2003, compared with a 15% increase in hospitalizations for type 1 diabetes, says NYU pediatrician Rhonda Graves, MD.
According to Graves, researchers from New York University School of Medicine reported that hospitalized children with type 2 diabetes had slightly longer hospital stays and more health problems than hospitalized children with type 1 diabetes.
"Type 2 diabetes is increasingly becoming a pediatric disease with serious complications just like adult-onset disease," Graves tells WebMD.
More Research Needed
The new analysis, published May 26 in The Lancet, highlights the importance of gaining a better understanding of the progression of type 2 diabetes in the young, Zeitler says.
The limited data suggest that children and teens with type 2 diabetes develop complications more quickly than children and teens with type 1 disease.
There is also some evidence that children and teens with type 2 diabetes are not as compliant with treatments as adults and are not being treated as aggressively, Zeitler says.
"One problem is that we have no guidelines about how to use the diabetes drugs we have in children and teens," he says.
A report earlier this week linking the widely prescribed diabetes drug Avandia to an increased risk of heart attacks and possibly death underscores the need for more research on the long-term safety of diabetes medications.
"Young people with diabetes will, in all likelihood, be on these drugs for decades," Zeitler notes.He cites the case of an 18-year-old patient who has had type 2 diabetes for four years -- a "very bright young man," says Zeitler, who dreams of going to medical school.
"He has terrible hypertension and cholesterol and is in the early stages of kidney disease," he says. "He is on as many drugs as most people's grandmothers, and the reality is he may or may not make it to age 35 or 40."
© 2007 WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Is This Normal?
Get the Facts Fast!Answer:
Your level is currently NormalHigh (hyperglycemia).Low (hypoglycemia). |
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.
People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Your blood sugar level is slightly high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.
However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your level is currently normal. However, if you are concerned about diabetes speak with your physician. There may be other risk factors that increase your risk for diabetes.
Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your blood sugar level may be high, depending on when you last ate. If you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 100. If you've eaten within the last 2 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 140. You should call your health care provider and ask if you need laboratory tests to check for diabetes. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Blood sugars consistently above 180 warrant prompt medical attention.
Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.
One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.
Your blood sugar level is high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.
Become a Rite Aid wellness+ for diabetes member and get:
- Diet tips and fitness ideas
- Tools and trackers to help monitor your blood sugar and more
- Special offers and money-saving coupons
This tool is not intended for women who are pregnant.
