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| |  Early Detection In Children Essential To Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Complications ALEXANDRIA, VA -- February 23, 2000 -- The alarming rise of type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents has prompted an expert panel of the American Diabetes Association to draft a consensus statement, being released today, addressing the proper prevention, treatment and diagnostic criteria for younger people with the disease. The landmark statement is the first to address the growing number of youth who are developing type 2 diabetes -- a form of diabetes that is generally diagnosed among adults. The consensus statement will be published in the March issue of the American Diabetes Association's journal, Diabetes Care, as well as in Pediatrics, the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The experts concluded that type 2 diabetes commonly occurs in children who are overweight, usually older than 10 years of age, members of certain ethnic groups, and who may have a family history of diabetes. Further, as the U.S. population becomes increasingly overweight, researchers expect type 2 diabetes to appear more frequently in younger, pre-pubescent children; in fact, cases have been documented with children as young as four years old having type 2 diabetes. Accurate diagnosis and classification of diabetes is crucial in determining appropriate treatment for type 2 diabetes in children. The report recommends oral agents because of better compliance and convenience than with insulin injections, along with self-management education, proper meal planning and an increase in physical activity. "Type 2 diabetes in children is an emerging epidemic," said Arlan Rosenbloom MD, Chairperson of the Consensus Panel that drafted the statement. "This document is an up-to-date resource for health care professionals to help them diagnose, treat and ultimately lower the risk of complications of this disease in children and adolescents." Diabetes refers to a series of diseases in which the body does not produce or respond properly to insulin, a hormone used by the body to convert sugars, starches and food into energy. Type 1 (formerly called insulin dependent diabetes), an auto-immune disorder, is commonly found in children and young adults who are slim. Type 2 (formerly called non-insulin dependent diabetes) results from insulin resistance, a condition in which the body fails to use insulin properly, combined with relative insulin deficiency. It is the most common type of diabetes and usually occurs in overweight adults over the age of 45. Close to sixteen million Americans have diabetes, the country's sixth leading cause of death by disease. Complications include blindness, kidney disease, heart disease and amputations. The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. The Association's mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Founded in 1940, the Association supports local offices in every region of the country, providing services to more than 800 communities.
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