Growth of Diabetes in Children

Type 2 Diabetes in children and adolescents is an emerging epidemic within the last 20

The most common symptoms are fatigue, having to urinate more than feeling thirsty, distorted vision, and dry mouth. Type 1 diabetes symptoms are rapidly noticed with more severe symptoms verses type 2 diabetes, which have symptoms that usually are not as noticeable and develop at a slower rate.

With over 30 million people having diabetes, the prevalence is continuing to rise. An estimated 200,000 American youth are effected by type 1 diabetes and 40,000 new cases are diagnosed each year¹. The rate for type 1 diabetes in youth has increased by 1.8% each year. In comparison, the prevalence for type 2 diabetes in youth has increased at a rate of 4.8% annually². No matter whether diabetes is type 1 or type 2 in children, family involvement is essential for optimal outcomes³.

According to the United States Library of Medicine, diabetes is a disease that occurs when the body does not make or use insulin correctly, therefore causing fluctuating amounts of glucose in the blood. Diabetes is a disease that affects millions of adults and children from various cultures. According to the American Diabetes Association (2014), someone is diagnosed with diabetes every 19 seconds. The Center of Disease Control and Prevention most recent statistical report indicated there were 29.1 million adults and children affected by diabetes. Those numbers are astounding. Unfortunately, the American Diabetes Association (2014) estimates by year of 2050, one out of three adults will have diabetes. Therefore, it is imperative that adults take aggressive measures to prevent this disease. By the same token, diabetes diagnosed in children and adolescent is becoming more prevalent every day. The American Diabetes Association (2014) reported there were about 216, 00 children in the United States with diabetes. It is predicted that one out three children will be diagnosed with diabetes in their life. The statistics for both adults and children with diabetes are frightening; however, early detection can help lower the risk of developing the debilitating effects of diabetes.

Diabetes medically known as diabetes mellitus is the name given to disorders in which the body has trouble regulating its blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels. Diabetes is due to one of two mechanisms inadequate production of insulin (which is made by the pancreas and lowers blood glucose) or inadequate sensitivity of cells to the action of insulin. (Definition). There are two different forms of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes is known as non-insulin-dependent. Type 1 diabetes often develops in children, adolescents, and young adults, so it's sometimes called "juvenile diabetes". “According to the American Diabetes

Helen Keller once said, “All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming.” Throughout life each person will face obstacles, but will only be defined by how they overcome or fail. In today’s society health and wellness has become such a challenge. Many things in our environment, social status, financial position, and culture can affect what we eat and our health status. Families in many countries are facing new onset of diseases and disorders, in which modern medicine now has the ability to combat to prolong good quality of life. Through research and education, families are now being able to understand juvenile diabetes. As a result, children are being able to live more normal lives.

In the United States and in many other countries around the world more children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. In the past, children who were diagnosed with diabetes were diagnosed with type 1. Type 1 diabetes affects many children in which they are unable to produce insulin. However, as times have changed children are now being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes which is a chronic illness that usually affects adults. Type 2 diabetes develops when the person is not able to produce enough insulin, and if insulin is being produce it is not effective. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 90% to 95% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes are type 2 (2012). About 215,000 children in the United States are

“Don’t Blame the Eater” by David Zinczenko, emphasizes the relationship between obesity in children and fast food restaurants. As a child, Zinczenko ate at many types of fast food restaurants, because his parents were too busy to cook for him. He had the option to eat at fast food because his neighborhood was invaded by them, eventually that contributed to his obesity and “by age 15 he had packed 212 pound of torpid teenage tallow won my once lanky 5 foot-10 frame” later he learned how to have a healthy diet. This essay offers important information about diabetes he said “ before 1994 , diabetes in children’s was generally caused by a genetic disorder, but today according to the National Institute of Health, type 2 diabetes accounts for at

Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both. The Insulin resistant patients are growing continuously in american children. New management strategies are helping minorities with diabetes live long and healthy lives. Diabetes is one of the most common known diseases in the african american community today. It’s associated with serious complications, but timely diagnosis and treatment. About 208,000 young black people in the united states under age 20 had diabetes both type 1 diabetes 2 in 2012. Scarcely Type 2 diabetes are increasing in children and adolescents. The frequency of diabetes in today society coincides with the food consumption, lack of exercise and lack of signs symptoms. Children who are of a minority in modern society tend to be more two times more likely to have diabetes mellitus , than any other child in the world.

Type 2 diabetes is typically caused by genetics and environmental factors, but also is caused by excess weight and inactivity such as gaining too much weight and lack of exercise. Type 2 diabetes is seen often in adolescents twenty years old and younger because children and teenagers are commonly known to gain weight and fail to exercise as often as they should. When it comes to diabetes and the different types, weight is a huge factor.

Gestational diabetes is a disease that affects pregnant women it’s a glucose intolerance that is started or diagnosed during pregnancy. Based on recently announced diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association, it is estimated that gestational diabetes affects 18% of pregnancies. Pregnancy hormones can block insulin therefore causing the glucose levels to increase in a pregnant woman’s blood. Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy (American Diabetes Association). Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to

Signs and symptoms of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are quite similar. With obesity linked to Type 2 diabetes, weight gain is an obvious sign and symptom. In contrast, a decrease in weight is seen more in Type 1 diabetes. Changes in bodily functions can also occur. Patients with Type 2 and Type 1 may experience an increase in urination. A decrease in fluids may lead to thirst and dry mouth. Those with diabetes also may notice they feel tired and hungrier more often than before (Gould & Dyer, 2011). With the signs and symptoms in mind, the many causes of diabetes is also important.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an intolerance of glucose documented for the first time during pregnancy. It is usually a short-term type of diabetes and the most common health problem with pregnant women. GBM is caused by the way the hormones in pregnancy affect the mother. GDM accounts for 5-7% of all pregnancies (American Diabetes Association, 2010). During pregnancy the placenta develops and becomes the main bond between the mother and the baby. It is used to make sure the baby has and gets enough nutrients. The placenta makes several hormones which make it hard for insulin to control blood glucose and block the action of the mother’s insulin in her body (American Diabetes Association, 2010). Hormonal changes during the

In today’s world, parents have an abundance of worries when it comes to their children. Drugs, bad grades, and pre marital sex are just some things that may plague a parent with sleepless nights. But even on the worst of those nights of worry, most parents can’t imagine that their child could face an illness. Not just a runny nose or seasonal flu, but an illness that would affect their child throughout his or her entire life. Diabetes is a disease without a cure, and one that more, and more children have to live with.

What was once thought to be found only among adults has become one of the most common chronic diseases among children in the United States. Ordinarily, when diabetes strikes during childhood it is assumed to be type 1. The SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study began in 2000 and has provided the most comprehensive estimates of the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes among youth less than 20 years of age in the US (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that annually, an estimated 18,436 youth are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, and 5,089 youth are diagnosed with type 2 among youth. In the last two decades, type 2 diabetes, has been reported among U.S. children and adolescents with increasing frequency. Disease researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made the prediction that one in three children born in the United States in 2000 will likely develop type 2 diabetes sometime in their lifetime unless they get more exercise and improve their diets, particularly for Latino children (CDC, 2014). Without changes in diet and exercise, their odds of developing diabetes as they grow older was about 50-50.