Type 2 Diabetes in Children - What Increases Your Risk
The major risk factors for type 2 diabetes in children include:
- Being overweight.
- Getting little or no physical activity.
- Family history. At least 75% of children with type 2 diabetes have a parent, sister, or brother with the disease.2
Other factors that increase risk include:
- Race. African-American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander children are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes than white American children.
- Being female. Girls are more likely to develop the disease than boys.
- The child's mother having diabetes that developed during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
- The child being small for gestational age at birth.
Medical conditions that contribute to the risk of complications in adolescence and beyond include:
- High blood pressure.
- High cholesterol and high triglycerides.
- Fatty liver, in which fat is deposited in the liver.
- Sleep apnea, in which breathing stops briefly during sleep.
Teens who have diabetes and smoke have a higher risk of complications from diabetes than do those who do not smoke.
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Type 2 Diabetes in Children Topics
Is This Normal? Get the Facts Fast!
Answer:
0-69
70-130
131+
Your level is currently
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.
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 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.
Did You Know Your Lifestyle Choices
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Use the Blood Glucose Tracker to monitor
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