Helping your child stay at a healthy weight, eat a healthy diet, and get regular exercise can help prevent type 2 diabetes. Some children may need to lose weight if they are overweight and have reached adult height. In some severe cases, weight loss may be needed before a child reaches full adult height.

Prediabetes increases a child's risk for type 2 diabetes. If your child has prediabetes, eating a healthy diet and getting more exercise may return your child's blood glucose to a normal range, and it might prevent type 2 diabetes. Your child will still need to see a doctor regularly to check for signs of diabetes.

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Most children with type 2 diabetes don't have symptoms when the disease is first found. That's because their blood glucose level has been rising so slowly. As a result, a child may have diabetes for several months or years before being diagnosed.

If a child has symptoms, they usually are mild. The most common ones are:

• Having to urinate more often. The child may start wetting the bed at night.
• Feeling a little more thirsty than normal.
• Losing a little weight for no clear reason.

Other possible symptoms include:

• Increased tiredness.
• Nausea.
• Blurred vision.
• Frequent infections and slow-healing wounds or sores.

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Over time, type 2 diabetes can lead to serious problems such as:

• Eye disease (diabetic retinopathy).
• Diabetic kidney disease.
• High blood pressure or high cholesterol. These diseases increase the risk of heart and blood vessel disease later in life.

The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely these problems are. Children who have type 2 diabetes may have a higher risk of problems because they will have diabetes for a long time. Keeping their blood glucose in the target range every day may help to delay or prevent some of these problems.

Diabetes can also cause growth and development problems.

• If blood glucose levels stay high for a long time, a child may grow faster than normal for a while, then slower than normal.
• If a child is overweight and has high blood glucose levels for a long time, puberty and menstruation may start earlier. And periods may be irregular.

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Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if your child:

Call a doctor now if your child:

• Is sick and has blood glucose that cannot be managed. Your doctor may have given you instructions on how to manage blood glucose when your child is sick.
• Has been vomiting or has had diarrhea for more than 6 hours.
• Has blood glucose that stays higher than the level the doctor has set for your child (for example, 14.0 mmol/L for two or more readings).
• Has blood glucose that stays lower than the level the doctor has set for your child (for example, 4.0 mmol/L for two or more readings).
• Has symptoms of low blood glucose, such as:
  • Sweating.
  • Feeling nervous, shaky, and weak.
  • Extreme hunger and slight nausea.
  • Dizziness and headache.
  • Blurred vision.
  • Confusion.

Check with your doctor if your child:

• Often has problems with high or low blood glucose levels.
• Has trouble knowing when their blood glucose is low (hypoglycemia unawareness).
• Or you have questions or want to know more about diabetes.

Watchful waiting

Watchful waiting is a wait-and-see approach. It's not a good choice if:

• You think your child may have symptoms of type 2 diabetes. A simple blood test is all that is needed to find out if your child has the disease.
• Your child is overweight and gets little or no exercise. Your child is at risk for diabetes. Finding and treating type 2 diabetes early can prevent or delay complications from the disease.
• You have been told that your child has prediabetes. This condition can lead to type 2 diabetes. If your child eats a healthy diet and exercises regularly, your child may not develop diabetes.

Check your symptoms

A simple blood test is usually all that is needed to diagnose diabetes. A doctor may do a blood sugar (glucose) test if your child has any risk factors for diabetes, such as being overweight or getting little or no exercise. The doctor may repeat the test to confirm the diagnosis.

The doctor may do other blood tests if it's not clear whether your child has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

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Treatment of type 2 diabetes in children focuses on keeping blood glucose levels within a target range. Treatment includes:

Healthy eating.

Children who have diabetes need healthy meals that provide the right amount of calories and carbohydrates.

Physical activity.

Being active helps the body use insulin correctly and helps control weight. Starting at age 5, children need at least 1 hour of moderate to vigorous activity every day.

Weight management.

A child who is overweight may need to lose weight (or stay at the same weight). This depends on age, development, and other risk factors.

Home blood glucose monitoring.

Your child's blood glucose level may need to be checked regularly.

Medicines.

Your child may take medicine to lower blood glucose. Some children need daily insulin. Some may also need medicine for high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

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Childhood and the teen years are a hard time to be diagnosed with diabetes. You play a major role in helping your child manage this disease. Try to set a good example. It will be easier for your child if the rest of the family also eats well and gets regular exercise.

• Teach your child to make healthy food choices.
  • Help your child to eat about the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal. This helps keep your child's blood glucose steady. Carbohydrate affects blood glucose more than other nutrients. It is found in sugar and sweets, grains, fruit, starchy vegetables, and milk and yogurt.
  • Your child's doctor, a diabetes educator, or a registered dietitian can help you make an eating plan that is good for your child and also good for your family.
• Encourage your child be more active.

  Starting at age 6, kids need at least 1 hour of moderate to vigorous activity every day. It's okay for a child to be active in smaller blocks of time that add up to 1 hour or more each day. Your child doesn't have to start a strict exercise program, but being more active can help control blood glucose.

  • Help your child find ways to make activity more fun. For example, your child could play outside with friends, take brisk walks with a family member, and take part in sports.
  • Limit the amount of time your child watches TV and uses the computer and cell phone.
• Check your child's blood glucose.

  You and your child will need to monitor your child's blood glucose. This will help you learn how different foods and activities affect your child's blood glucose. Your doctor can teach you and your child how to do this.

• Help your child take medicine, if needed.
  • A child with type 2 diabetes may need diabetes medicine to stay in the target blood glucose range. Your child may need one medicine at some times and more than one at other times.
  • If your child has high blood pressure or high cholesterol, your child may need medicines for those conditions.
• Learn how to prepare and give insulin shots.

  A child with type 1 diabetes may take several injections a day or use an insulin pump. A child with type 2 diabetes may need to take insulin for a while when first diagnosed or during illness or surgery. In time, a child may need daily insulin.

• Help your child become independent in caring for diabetes.

  Let your child do as much of the care as possible. But provide support and guidance as needed.

  • Children in grade school can help with all tasks required for their care. By age 8, children can test their own blood glucose if they are supervised.
  • Children in middle school or junior high should be able to test their own blood glucose, but they may need help during low blood glucose episodes. By age 10, some children can give insulin shots if they are supervised.
  • Teens should be able to handle their own care with some adult oversight.

Avoiding blood glucose emergencies

There are things you can do at home to help your child who has type 2 diabetes stay well and avoid the need for emergency treatment.

• Learn how to recognize and treat high and low blood glucose.

  Even when you are careful and do all the right things, your child can have problems with high or low blood glucose. It's important to know what signs to look for and what to do if this happens.

• Have your child wear medical identification at all times.

  In an emergency, a medical alert bracelet (Figure 1), necklace, or a temporary tattoo lets people know that your child has diabetes so they can provide the right care.

• Know what to do if your child is ill.

  Work with your doctor or diabetes educator to make a sick-day plan for your child. Discuss your child's target blood glucose goal during an illness. Know how to adjust the insulin dose and timing (if your child takes insulin) and when to contact your doctor for help.

• Work with your child's school and caregivers.

  Make a plan to handle your child's special needs, such as knowing the symptoms of high or low blood glucose and how to treat them.

• Take care of your child's feet.

  Diabetes can interfere with the body's ability to fight infection. So even a minor foot injury could lead to a serious infection.

  • Be sure your child wears shoes that fit properly.
  • Don't let your child go barefoot outdoors if there is a risk of getting a cut or any foot injury.
  • Check your child's feet on a routine basis and anytime your child has a foot complaint. Look for signs of injury or infection. If you notice a foot problem, even a minor one, talk with your doctor before you treat it.
• Get support.

  Some children and teens may have trouble keeping their blood glucose in a healthy range. Support groups can share encouragement and suggestions that may help you and your child deal with the daily issues of diabetes care. Ask your doctor about groups in your area.

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Figure 1 - Medical alert bracelet

A medical alert bracelet is worn around the wrist. It has information about your identity and your medical condition. This can help emergency care providers know right away how to help you if you are not able to talk.

Information about you and your emergency contacts can be etched on the bracelet. Or you may prefer a medical alert necklace. The jewellery can be made of different materials, including plastics, rubber, and metal.

An adult or child may want to wear medical alert jewellery if he or she has an ongoing medical condition, has food or drug allergies, or is taking multiple medicines.

Current as of: October 24, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

Medicines that may be prescribed for children with type 2 diabetes are:

Metformin.

This is the medicine of choice for children with type 2 diabetes. It is taken as a pill.

Insulin.

Your doctor may suggest insulin if metformin doesn't keep your child's blood glucose in the target range. Insulin can be taken as a shot (injection) or through an insulin pump (Figure 2) .

• Some children need daily insulin. Even if your doctor doesn't prescribe daily insulin, your child may need to take it for a while when first diagnosed or during illness or surgery.
• Insulin may be given as a single nighttime dose, as several smaller doses throughout the day, or both.

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Figure 2 - Insulin pump

An insulin pump is a small computerized device that delivers insulin into the body. This is different from injecting insulin throughout the day using insulin syringes and needles.

Insulin pumps can be programmed to deliver very precise amounts of insulin in a continuous (basal) dose. They can also deliver carefully planned extra (bolus) doses at specific times throughout the day, usually when you eat.

Some pumps, like the one in this picture, connect to the body through a thin tube and needle inserted under the skin, usually in the belly. Some pumps attach directly to the body and don't need tubing. Some pump systems use a remote control. And some pumps are disposable and don't use tubing or a remote control. A pump with no tubing is sometimes called a "pump patch."

Most pumps can hold between 200 and 300 units of insulin, depending on the model used. Some pumps also work as a blood glucose meter or can communicate with your meter to adjust your bolus dose of insulin.

Insulin pumps allow flexibility in how a person times their meals and snacks. The pumps may help some people to have fewer low blood sugar events (hypoglycemic episodes) than people who inject insulin. The insulin pump is designed to mimic the normal function of the pancreas.

Current as of: April 30, 2024

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.