Type 2 Diabetes Rising In Children

Type 2 diabetes is the leading cause of blindness and the leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. It's also a major cause of heart disease.

While type 2 diabetes used to be considered an adult disease, more and more kids are getting the same diagnosis.

The Cunningham family tries to eat healthier these days. It wasn't a diet, however, that made 16-year-old Summer drop 35 pounds in 30 days.

"The pounds just started coming off and then they were like, 'Oh, you look so good,' and then the compliments would make you feel better. But I knew that it wasn't that normal," Summer said.

Summer knew it wasn't normal, especially since she wasn't trying to lose weight.

"I knew something was wrong," she said. "The way that I was feeling was not normal."

Her mother, Starr, said, "On the way to school I said, 'Summer, you know, maybe you just need a psychiatrist. Maybe you're a hypochondriac and you're driving me crazy.'"

Then a diabetic friend suggested Summer test her blood sugar. It was six times higher than normal. It turned out Summer's rapid weight loss was a symptom of type 2 diabetes. So were her mood swings, excessive thirst and frequent urination.

Endocrinologist Siripoom McKay of the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston diagnosed Summer.

"It was very serious," McKay said. "We were able to bring [Summer's] glucose down quickly, fortunately."

Before 1994, of all children diagnosed with diabetes, less than 5 percent had type 2. Today, that number has risen to as many as 50 percent.

"We think, but we're not sure, that it's related to increased obesity and also decreased physical activity," McKay said.

Summer and her parents are relieved to finally have a diagnosis. But Summer's dad, Sam, said, "I don't think we could have done anything different."

Now the family is learning how to live with diabetes.

Doctors recommend children who are overweight, who have a family history of diabetes, or who are of ethnic descent should be tested for the disease at age 10. The test is a simple blood test, but parents may need to ask their pediatrician to perform the test.

If you would like more information, please contact:

Baylor College of Medicine
Clinical Care Center
Suite 1020
6621 Fannin Street CC 1020.05
Houston, TX 77030-2399
(832) 822-3776
http://www.diabetes.org

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