Type 2 diabetes, traditionally a problem for people later in life, has been appearing rapidly in children. The appearance of type 2 diabetes in children goes hand-in-hand with the increase in childhood obesity. Unfortunately poor nutritional habits combined with an exercise-free lifestyle has led to the doubling of obesity amongst children ages 6 to 11 during the past twenty years.

Your child or grandchild may already be quite seriously affected before you realise what is going on. For this reason alone parents and carers need to watch carefully for any developing signs that could alert them to the possibility of type 2 diabetes

Like adults, children with type 2 diabetes can develop symptoms slowly over a long period. These might include:

• frequent trips to the bathroom
• increased thirst… high blood sugar levels robs moisture from body tissues, making your child drink more water
• tiredness during waking hours… remember that blood sugar is not able to enter the cells so therefore the cells are receiving no energy or fuel
• increased hunger
• occasional blurry vision… vision blurs because the lenses in your child’s eyes need to adjust to the changes in his blood sugar levels
• sores that heal very slowly and frequent infections… type 2 diabetes causes chemical imbalances that can impair the ability of your child’s body to repair itself
• discolored skin… a velvety darkening of the skin, especially under the arms and on the back of the neck, called acanthosis nigricans. The place to check is in the folds.

Bear in mind that these warning signs do not develop suddenly, the condition itself progresses slowly. The changes creep up on you so gradually that you get used to them almost before you notice any change.

What to do if you think there might be a problem: The important thing is do something about it right away… even if your child does not have type 2 diabetes, it is best to have these signs checked out. When you see your health care provider, insist on a simple blood test that will determine whether or not your child has high blood sugar levels.

If this is not the problem, find out what else is causing the signs you noticed. If it is type 2 diabetes it can be controlled and often can be reversed. A healthy diet for children with type 2 diabetes consists of:

• five to nine servings of vegetables and fruits each day
• several servings of whole grains
• some low fat dairy products
• small portions of lean protein
• and a little fat

Often the parents of obese children are also overweight so this is a nutritious eating plan for the whole family to follow.

The important thing is to keep a handle on it so that your child can enjoy a long and happy life. If you achieve that, you have done your job well.

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