The scale of diabetes becoming a serious problem becomes clear when a three year old girl was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2D), making her now one of the youngest to ever have the disease.
The three-year old American was brought to an obesity clinic complaining of frequent urination and extreme thirst, which are one of the three hallmarks of diabetes. The girl, who hailed from Houston, Texas, weighed 35 kilograms or 77.16 pounds, which was more than twice the normal weight of most three year olds. Dr. Michael Yafi, director of Pediatric Endocrinology of the University of Texas, was her attending physician who made her diagnosis.
"Based on symptoms, physical findings of obesity and laboratory results the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was made." Yafi confirmed. Both of her parents were also obese and further investigation revealed that the child's condition was due to being fed foods high in sugar and fat.
This case further demonstrates the severity of diabetes as a global epidemic. "The incidence of type 2 diabetes has increased dramatically worldwide in children due to the epidemic of child obesity," Yafi added. "Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of type 2 diabetes even in very young obese children."
T2D used to be called "mature onset diabetes", being an acquired condition wherein the body loses the ability to create effective insulin to control glucose levels. Since 2000, children ages seven to nine years old were already being diagnosed with T2D and already around 100 children below ten are diagnosed with the disorder. Health experts believe that parents and guardians who let children eat junk food and do not encourage physical activity are largely responsible for this.
The girl was given a liquid form of metformin, an anti-diabetic medication, and the parents were told to follow a strict calorie counted diet. The child was is also encouraged to do physical activity. Within six months, she was able to lose weight, maintain normal blood sugar levels and eventually weaned off the treatment. Moreover, if she continues doing consistent physical activity and eating healthy, there is hope that the T2D in the child is stopped for good. "Reversal of type 2 diabetes in children is possible by early screening of obese children, early diagnosis, appropriate therapy and lifestyle modification." Yafi said.
Image: Gaulsstin | Flickr
