Type 2 diabetes: More children at risk for “adult” disease
Rising obesity rates partly to blame
Type 2 Diabetes in children: It’s a family affair
Is your child at risk for type 2 diabetes?
Signs and symptoms Some children have no symptoms of type 2 diabetes, while others may experience:
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Need more information?
• Take Charge of Your Health!
A Teenager’s Guide to Better Health
877-946-4627• National Diabetes Education Program
888-693-NDEP• American Diabetes Association Planet D
800-342-2383
www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/parents-and-kids/planet-d/
Is it a dirty neck or a sign of diabetes?
Is it a dirty neck or a sign of diabetes? |
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The pancreas, a tapered seven-inch long gland situated beneath the stomach, secretes a hormone called insulin, which plays a major role in the absorption of glucose into the cells of the body.
Glucose is a simple sugar that is released into the bloodstream after we eat and digest certain foods, particularly carbohydrates. Glucose provides fuel for the body. Just as cars run on gas, our bodies run on glucose. We are able to walk and run because glucose fuels our muscles. However, glucose cannot enter the cells without the assistance of insulin.
In type 2 diabetes, the body either does not make enough insulin or does not effectively use the insulin it produces. Sugar builds up in the blood, starving the cells of their much-needed energy, and causing potentially serious health complications.
Click here for a closer look at insulin
A closer look
The pancreas, a tapered seven-inch long gland situated beneath the stomach, secretes a hormone called insulin, which plays a major role in the absorption of glucose into the cells of the body.
Glucose is a simple sugar that is released into the bloodstream after we eat and digest certain foods, particularly carbohydrates. Glucose provides fuel for the body. Just as cars run on gas, our bodies run on glucose. We are able to walk and run because glucose fuels our muscles. However, glucose cannot enter the cells without the assistance of insulin.
In type 2 diabetes, the body either does not make enough insulin or does not effectively use the insulin it produces. Sugar builds up in the blood, starving the cells of their much-needed energy, and causing potentially serious health complications.
Click here for a closer look at insulin