Type 2 Diabetes Crisis in Adolescents

09/16/08 Type II Diabetes

Aggressively addressing the rising incidence of type 2 diabetes among adolescents should be a goal of medical professionals every where, according to recent reports from the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes. 

Adolescents with type 2 diabetes have hypertension (high blood pressure), generalized obesity, abdominal obesity, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, and microalbuminuria (albumin in the urine) more frequently than their non-diabetic peers. In a nutshell, these children are at extremely high risk for cardiovascular disease.

The diabetic epidemic has reached an all-time high in the United States. Obesity may be one factor greatly contributing to the rise in type 2 diabetes among adolescents. Eighty-six percent of the type 2 diabetic youth are obese, compared to 26 percent of youth without diabetes according to one study. Children are getting less activity, eating more junk food and have problems with self-discipline. Families have a hard time adjusting schedules so everyone dines together and, in general, lifestyle has had a deleterious affect on our offspring.

At the same conference there was a lively debate about treating individuals at high risk of type 2 diabetes. One group argued for starting high-risk individuals on medication as an intervention. Those physicians lost out to the specialists who advocate alterations in lifestyle as the most effective means of preventing diabetes. 

Type 2 diabetes is one of the few disease which is profoundly affected by the choices we make. While it is certainly easier to take a pill or two rather than eat healthy, exercise, and live sensibly, those lifestyle changes are the best way to prevent diabetes. Medication can control, but not cure the illness. The burden falls on us to prevent diabetes and diabetic complications like heart disease, failed kidneys, loss of eyesight and possible loss of limbs.

Corie Richter is a nurse and physician's assistant who started her career as a health educator. The survivor of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) and partially successful quadruple bypass surgery, she did not let her health challenges hamper her. Neither the limitations of spinal surgery nor of diabetes have deterred her from a mission of service. She now encourages others through writing and speaking engagements to master their disabilities through education and a proactive attitude.