Can My Teen Have Diabetes?

There’s nothing about diabetes that prevents it from happening to people of any age. In 2020, it was estimated that over 200,000 children and teens had diabetes. 

Below the age of 18, type 1 diabetes is the more common type present in children, though type 2 does also occur. Since the damage of diabetes accumulates over time, it’s important to get high blood sugar under control, and it can be critical for some type 1 patients. 

Our medical team at Abdow Friendship Pediatrics in Rockville, Maryland, can help your teen with diabetes manage their condition and minimize its impact now and in the future. 

Understanding type 1 and type 2 diabetes

Diabetes is a category of conditions that result in abnormally high blood sugar levels. Teens are more likely to suffer from type 1 diabetes, a condition caused when their body stops manufacturing the hormone insulin. 

Insulin acts as a key, signalling cells to accept blood sugar for energy. Without insulin, as in type 1 diabetes, blood sugar builds up in the bloodstream, where it begins to create damage throughout the body. 

Typically, type 1 patients require injections of synthetic insulin to regulate sugar absorption. This, in turn, reduces the level of sugar in the blood. 

Individuals with type 1 diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels, then inject insulin to provide the right amount to balance their blood glucose readings. Too much insulin can cause blood sugar to drop to dangerous levels, a condition called hypoglycemia. 

With type 2 diabetes, the body may still produce insulin, but cells stop listening to its effects, a condition called insulin resistance. While the origin of type 2 diabetes is different from that of type 1, each leads to excessive blood sugar. 

Eventually, a teen with type 2 diabetes may need insulin, but there are many more options for treatment. Type 2 diabetes in teens is usually related to obesity and poor eating habits. 

Risk factors for diabetes

There’s a suspicion that genetics plays a role in diabetes, but simply having vulnerable genes probably isn’t the only contributor. 

Type 1 diabetes risk factors

There’s no way to prevent type 1 diabetes. Risk factors are most likely to include having a parent or sibling with the condition or be based on geography, since type 1 diabetes is statistically higher the farther you live from the equator, though it’s not known why. 

Type 1 diabetes usually emerges between ages 4-7 or 10-14, though it can start at any age. 

Type 2 diabetes risk factors

Since type 2 diabetes is linked to obesity, there are preventable risk factors. In some cases, changes to lifestyle can prevent type 2 diabetes before it starts. Lifestyle factors may help manage the condition without increased reliance on medication. 

Risk factors include: 

• Overweight/obesity: body mass index is a key risk factor for type 2 at any age
• Diet: high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, red meat, and processed meats
• Sedentary habits: low physical activity levels increase the risk
• Gender: teen girls are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than boys

Family history also plays a role in type 2 diabetes risk. 

Yes, teens can have diabetes. So, don’t ignore the symptoms. Contact our team at Abdow Friendship Pediatrics today. Call or click to schedule a consultation.