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Type 2 Diabetes and Kids
July 8, 2010 Updated Jul 8, 2010 at 4:03 PM EDT

Ten years ago, the disease was almost unheard of in children. Now, new government research shows the number of teens with "type 2" or "adult-onset" diabetes is sky-rocketing. According to the CDC, if this trends continues, one in three children will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the years ahead. Doctors blame obesity, "you can track the trends in the increase in overweight and obesity among young people and adults and following right on the heels of it is a sharp rise in the prevalence of diabetes" says Dr. Howell Wechsler, with the Centers for Disease Control.
In fact, according to researchers at NYU, the number of kids hospitalized because of type-two diabetes has tripled in the last decade. Diabetes is especially cruel because of complications like blindness, kidney failure and even amputation. Experts say complications typically appear 15 years after diabetes sets in, which means that because they're getting the disease so young, these kids may suffer complications when they're 25 0r 30 instead of later in life.
Experts say the best way to prevent diabetes is to cut out junk foods, eat more fruits & vegetables and exercise. Doctors say, at first, most kids who develop type two diabetes will not have symptoms. That's why it's important to ask your pediatrician for an evaluation if your child is overweight.

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