Diabetes on the Rise Among Youth

(RxWiki News) Those younger than 20 have seen an increase in diabetes, according to a new study.

In the United States, more than 29 million people are estimated to have diabetes. This is the first study to estimate the rates of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in people younger than 20, with a particular focus on the trends among five racial/ethnic groups. 

According to this study, rates of type 1 and type 2 diabetes have increased among children and teens across the nation. The report was based on data from 2002 to 2012. 

The study included more than 11,200 children between the ages of 0 and 19 with type 1 diabetes and more than 2,800 children between the ages of 10 and 19 with type 2 diabetes. 

The rate of newly diagnosed cases of type 1 diabetes in children and teens increased by about 1.8 percent each year, this study found. The rate of new cases of type 2 diabetes in children and teens increased by 4.8 percent each year. 

Key findings from the report included differences in diabetes rates between genders. The rate of newly diagnosed cases of type 1 diabetes rose much more sharply in males than in females. However, the rate of new type 2 diabetes cases increased more in females than in males. 

In terms of racial and ethnic groups, this study found that the rate of new type 1 diabetes cases increased the most in Hispanic youth. Regarding type 2 diabetes, new cases rose the most in Native Americans, followed by Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders and then non-Hispanic blacks. 

Speak with your pharmacist or child’s pediatrician about diabetes. 

This study was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded this research. One study author disclosed ties to medical companies.