Type 2 diabetes in children

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goodtoknow says: Type 2 diabetes is common in adults, but it's beginning to occur in children too, and is linked with overweight, sedentary lifestyles. Diabetes is a hormone disorder. It happens when your child has too much sugar (glucose) in their blood. Type 2 diabetes can normally be controlled with lifestyle changes such as changes to diet, weight control and physical activity. Failing that, tablets can help balance blood glucose leves. Insulin injections are needed in some cases. Diabetes treatments are very successful and most diabetic children lead a full, normal life.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus (just called diabetes from now on) occurs when the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood becomes higher than normal. There are two main types of diabetes - Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

Understanding blood glucose and insulin

After you eat, various foods are broken down in your gut into sugars. The main sugar is called glucose which passes through your gut wall into your bloodstream. However, to remain healthy, your blood glucose level should not go too high or too low.

So, when your blood glucose level begins to rise (after you eat), the level of a hormone called insulin should also rise. Insulin works on the cells of your body and makes them take in glucose from the bloodstream. Some of the glucose is used by the cells for energy, and some is converted into glycogen or fat (which are stores of energy). When the blood glucose level begins to fall (between meals), the level of insulin falls. Some glycogen or fat is then converted back into glucose which is released from the cells into the bloodstream.

Insulin is a hormone that is made by cells called beta cells. These are part of little 'islands' of cells (islets) within the pancreas. Hormones are chemicals that are released into the bloodstream and work on various parts of the body.