Parents' Guide to Type 2 Diabetes in Youth

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Type 2 diabetes is rising in American kids, especially African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans. Your child is at risk if your child is overweight or has a family history of diabetes.

Warning Signs

There are signs you can look for. See your doctor if your child is: very thirsty, going to the bathroom more often or at night (or wetting the bed), having blurry vision, very tired, or has dark skin around the neck or armpit.

Prevention

There are things you can do to help prevent type 2 diabetes. Encourage active play, lots of exercise, and healthy meals. For kids who are overweight, here are some changes to try (if needed): Limit time for television and video games to less than 2 hours a day; drink less regular sodas, sports drinks, and juice and drink more water instead; limit fast foods, or eat smaller portion sizes.

Diabetes Management

Until someone discovers a cure for diabetes, you, your child, and your child's health care team will work to keep your child's blood glucose levels as close as possible to his/her target range by balancing food, medicine, and activity. Read on to find out how.

Food & Losing Weight - Your child may be overweight. If so, losing weight will be an important part of his/her diabetes care plan. You, your child, and your child's health care team will work together to build a diabetes plan that lets your child be the boss of his or her diabetes. Even if your child is not overweight, your child's plan will help him/her balance food, activities, and sometimes medicine.

Physical Activity - The more calories your child burns up, the better his/her body uses insulin, and the more often his/her blood glucose will be in his/her target range. Your child doesn't have to start running marathons. But do make sure he/she does something active every day. It can be shooting hoops, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, hacky sack, anything that raises yourchild's heartbeat for 20 minutes or more. Watching TV, spending hours at the computer, playing video games, and hanging out with friends does not count as exercise.

Medication - Your child's doctor may give your child diabetes medicine to help his/her feel better and keep his/her blood glucose levels within your your child's target range. Be sure to ask how and when to ake the medicine, and how much to take. You should also know how the medicine works, whether there are any side effects, and when you should report side effects to your child's  doctor. Your child's doctor may have him/her take insulin shots for a while to get his/her blood glucose levels back to where they should be. Some people can manage type 2 diabetes without medicine. Losing weight and following a diabetes plan will help.

What Is This Dark Skin Patch?

Lots of people who have type 2 diabetes have "insulin resistance." That means that their body is making insulin but can’t use it. So the insulin builds up and as a result, you may get a dark area of skin around your neck or in your armpit. It’s called acanthosis nigricans (AAY-can-THO-sis NIG-ruh-cans), or "A.N."

Almost 75% of kids with type 2 diabetes have AN, so your child is not alone. But it can be embarrassing. Some people call it "dirty neck" and try scrubbing it or even using bleach to get rid of it. These don't work, though, so spare yourself the bleaching. The good news is that taking control over your child's diabetes -- teaching him/her to eat well, be active, lose some weight, and take diabetes medicine -- lowers the amount of unused insulin in your child's body. This will help get rid of AN.

Is My Child the Only One?

Diabetes can make your child feel very alone. He/she may not know any one else who has diabetes. What your child may not know is, he/she is not alone. Almost 21 million people in the United States have diabetes. And most of them have type 2. There are Olympic athletes, sports stars, famous actors, and people doing just about everything else, all with diabetes.

It may help for your child to meet someone else his/her age with diabetes. Your local American Diabetes Association office can help. The folks there can tell you about different group activities. Your child can join a walk or bike ride that raises money to find the cure for diabetes. To find your local ADA office and learn more about ADA activities in your area, visit our local information section, or call 1-888-DIABETES (342-2383).

In addition, download "Kids & Type 2 Diabetes," a six page brochure (PDF) that will give your child the answers he/she needs.

Type 2 Diabetes Research

Scientists are trying to find the best ways to treat kids & teens with type 2 diabetes. One study is called "TODAY." If your child has type 2 diabetes, you can join the study and get free diabetes medicine, doctor visits, and more.