Diabetes, one of the most common health conditions worldwide, is rapidly increasing in prevalence among young people. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveals that an estimated one in three teenagers have pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be classified as diabetes.
Without intervention, these adolescents face an elevated risk for Type 2 diabetes, long-term organ damage, stroke and heart disease.
Despite these statistics, a large number of adolescents with pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes remain undiagnosed. Symptoms of both conditions are often brushed off because they mimic everyday occurrences like growing pains, vision shifts and tiredness. This leads to many being officially diagnosed much further down the line; however, catching and managing diabetes early in life is far easier and more effective than treating severe health complications later on.
It is important to note a few common distinctions between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas that help control blood sugar levels. Individuals with a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) with Type 1 diabetes are at a genetic predisposition for it, and there are currently no ways to lower a child’s risk. Conversely, Type 2 diabetes is characterized by a lack of insulin or bodily resistance to it, which also hinders the body’s ability to manage blood sugar.
Those who are overweight, lead sedentary lifestyles or have unhealthy diets are at a significantly higher risk for Type 2, though genetics do play a major role. Effective prevention of Type 2 diabetes involves lifestyle changes through managing weight, exercising more frequently and reducing the consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Parents and teenagers should schedule a diabetes screening with a healthcare provider if an adolescent is experiencing common warning signs like excessive thirst, a frequent need to urinate, extreme hunger even after eating, darkened patches of skin around the neck or armpits, fatigue / unusual tiredness, blurry vision, or slow healing cuts or bruises.
*Ira Dasnurkar is a rising high school freshman. She is a Girl Scout Cadette and martial artist who is passionate about serving her community.
