Ongoing research and advances have helped to expand and improve products and offer simpler or more successful strategies to manage diabetes. While historically much less common in children or teens, during the last ten years type 2 diabetes has begun to occur at an alarming rate in children and teens. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the cells in the body becoming resistant to insulin. The pancreas is still capable of making insulin, but the cells of the body don't respond to the insulin, not allowing the glucose from the food eaten to enter the cells. Children with Type 2 diabetes are usually overweight and have a close relative with type 2 diabetes.
Treatment can often consist of weight loss and exercise.
Oral medication can also be used. Insulin is sometimes necessary. When a child is first diagnosed with diabetes, both the child and the family may experience shock, anger, sadness and disbelief. Most often, the family has little to no experience with diabetes and don't know how to manage it. At diagnosis, the child and their family meet with members of the diabetes team for medical consultation, diagnosis, education, advice, guidelines and support.