Essay Example on Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction

Diabetes is a disease that affects how the human body uses glucose, which is the primary type of sugar in our blood. Naturally, the glucose level in the blood increases after a meal, promoting the production of insulin. However, the bodies of people with diabetes cannot make or respond to insulin as required. There are two types of diabetes – type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Usually, diabetes in children and teenagers is affiliated with type 1 diabetes, but recently, type 2 diabetes is on the rise in children and teens. There are several causes of type 2 diabetes, but it seems that every generation, type 2 diabetes becomes more and more common in youth because of schools, background, and lack of exercise.

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History and Description of the Problem

Type 2 diabetes mainly affects adults and is less common in children. However, a child or teen can have type 2 diabetes when the insulin is not working correctly. When the body cannot produce enough insulin, then there is a high likelihood for glucose to accumulate in the bloodstream. It is essential to know that the chances of getting type 2 diabetes increase as one gets older, but a child can also develop it. According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2015, the number of children and teens aged from 10 to 19 years who were being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes had significantly increased (Salomon 2).

Additionally, newly diagnosed cases in 2017 increased by 6.3 percent in non-Hispanic Black youths and 8.5 percent in Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans of ages 10 to 19. On the other hand, white youths had the least numbers at 0.6 percent (Salomon 2). Mainly, the rise in type two diabetes among these young individuals were attributed to obesity, among other causes. Type 2 diabetes has several symptoms, including urinating more often at night, tiredness, increased thirst, slow healing of cuts and wounds, blurred vision, itching around the genitals, and weight loss. If you notice these symptoms, you need to visit a doctor for a proper diagnosis because type 2 diabetes can cause significant damage.

Cause of the Problem

So far, the exact cause of type 2 diabetes has not been determined. However, kids and teens who develop type 2 diabetes have a family history of the disease, or a parent(s) suffers from the disease. But the genetic risk is not the only thing that predisposes kids and teens to this type of diabetes. The diet children and teens take at home and in school also plays a significant role in increasing this disease's development. Moreover, the sedentary lifestyle kids and teens follow these days could lead to type 2 diabetes development. The condition occurs when there is insulin resistance in the body, which leads to increased blood sugar levels. Normally, insulin resistance begins during puberty – particularly within the range of 10 to 19 years.

The rise in the development of type 2 diabetes among minorities in the United States can be attributed to economic status (Salomon 4). You find that Hispanic and Black households have significantly lower average incomes as compared to white homes. Consequently, they have higher poverty rates. With such an economic status, you will find that kids in these families get exposed to several factors. The major one being poor diet. Eating an unhealthy diet increased the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. You will find kids that hail from these backgrounds prefer to eat fast foods as opposed to the healthier alternatives.

Similarly, the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has contributed to a significant increase in type 2 diabetes in children and teens. According to Rosinger, 64.5 percent of boys and 63.1 percent of girls aged from 2 to 19 years consumed at least one sugar-sweetened beverage on specific days between 2011 and 2014 (Rosinger 7). Sugar-sweetened beverages include energy drinks, fruit drinks, and soda, among others. These drinks contain added sugars and extra calories, which predispose kids and teens to type 2 diabetes.

Moreover, kids who lead a sedentary lifestyle have a high likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes. Without physical activity, a child or teen cannot control his or her weight. Therefore, there is an increased risk of an inactive child becoming obese, which is one of the leading causes of this type of diabetes in young persons. Besides, inactivity means that the kid or teen doesn’t use glucose in the body for energy. This may cause glucose to accumulate in excess, making the body less responsive to insulin.

Cultural factors may also contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes among children and teenagers- particularly those who come from Black or Hispanic households. They perceive adding weight as a sign of being healthy. However, this is not the case. A kid or teenager may end up consuming unhealthy foods to increase weight, and that may lead to more complications, including developing type 2 diabetes.

Effects of the Problem

When a child or teenager develops type 2 diabetes, he or she will encounter several complications. That is why parents with kids who have this type of diabetes need to consult the doctor on how to handle the children. Type 2 diabetes could affect your child’s major organs such as the eyes, nerves, blood vessels, and kidneys. However, the long-term complications develop bit by bit over the years. When the condition gets too severe, it can become life-threatening (MayoClinic.org).

Solutions to the Problem

Type 2 diabetes is treatable, but it is usually a lifetime plan. The treatment of kids and teens with type 2 diabetes changes over time as they grow. So, parents need to be up-to-date with their kids’ treatment plan to make sure the glucose levels in the blood are close to normal. That requires working closely with everyone involved in the kid’s or teen’s treatment plan. Overall, a proper treatment plan helps to prevent complications later.

One of the ways to control type 2 diabetes in children and teens is through blood sugar monitoring. The doctor provides you with proper advice about when to check the blood sugar levels. A parent must also record the results to keep track of the child’s condition. Usually, testing is done using a blood glucose meter. The frequency of testing is determined by the condition of the child or teen. Those who take insulin need to test more often than those who don’t.

Another solution to this problem is through proper dieting. Healthy dieting goes a long way in containing type 2 diabetes, especially since children and teens are still growing. A dietician will mostly recommend keeping off sweets, sugar-sweetened drinks, and consuming fewer animal products (MayoClinic.org). To control this condition through a diet, a child or teen needs to take lower-fat foods and low-calorie foods. Moreover, you can reduce the portion you serve the kid and make sure they eat many fruits and vegetables. Water is also essential.

You can also control type 2 diabetes by engaging in physical activity. Usually, physical activity helps to reduce the blood sugar levels in the body. Consequently, you need to make sure your kid gets enough exercise per day, but it shouldn’t be too exhausting.

Additionally, the condition can be controlled through medication. The Food and Drug Administration has approved several drugs for managing type 2 diabetes in children – liraglutide, metformin, and insulin. Insulin and liraglutide are administered through an injection, while metformin is taken orally (MayoClinic.org).

Conclusion

Diabetes in childhood and adolescence is mostly associated with type 1 diabetes. However, the rate of type 2 diabetes among children and teenagers is rising. The increment of the condition among children under 20 is attributed to a lot of factors such as socioeconomic status, obesity, genetics, inactivity, and poor diet. The numbers also seem to be higher among the Black and Hispanic populations than in White households. Fortunately, type 2 diabetes is treatable through several plans, but the treatment plan is a lifelong process, which changes as the kid or teen grows.

Works Cited

Rosinger, Asher, Herrick Kirsten, Gahche Jaime and Park Sohyun. Sugar-sweetened Beverage Consumption Among U.S. Youth, 2011–2014. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. January 2017, pp 2-6.

Salomon, Sheryl. Type 2 Diabetes Is Increasing in Children and Teens, Especially in BIPOC Youth. Everyday Health, 5 August 2020, pp 2-9.

“Type 2 Diabetes in Children.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 26 Aug. 2020, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes-in-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20355318.