Type 2 Diabetes in Children
Care, Guidance, and Support for Children with Type 2 Diabetes
Every child with type 2 diabetes has unique needs and circumstances. At Duke Children's, we customize your child’s treatment to offer the care, support, and information your family needs. Our pediatric endocrinologists, nurses, diabetes educators, dietitians, and social workers help your child manage their diabetes and lead a healthy life.
What Is Type 2 Diabetes?
Insulin is a hormone that takes sugar (called glucose) from your bloodstream and delivers it into your body’s cells to be used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, your child’s body creates insulin but either doesn’t produce enough or doesn’t use it well. This causes your child to have high blood sugar levels, which can lead to serious health complications over time.
Managing your child’s type 2 diabetes means paying careful attention to their eating, drinking, and exercise habits. Your child may also need to take medicine or insulin injections. The Duke Children’s diabetes care team is experienced in working with children of all ages and their families. We’ll ensure your child gets the best-quality medical care and has the understanding and support they need to control their blood sugar, lose weight, and adopt healthy lifestyle practices to manage their diabetes.
Comprehensive Care for Children with Type 2 Diabetes
At Duke Children’s, you can be confident that your child will receive care from an experienced team that’s known for its expertise.
- We’re nationally ranked for pediatric diabetes and endocrinology by U.S. News & World Report, and we are recognized by the American Diabetes Association for our diabetes self-management education. In addition, we were the first center in the Southeast to offer specialized care for children with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance.
- We address all the health challenges that can occur with obesity and type 2 diabetes -- from high blood pressure and sleep apnea to hormone and other problems. We evaluate your child’s overall health and work closely with pediatricians, cardiologists, nephrologists (kidney doctors), orthopedic specialists, and other specialists to tailor your child’s treatment to their unique needs.
- Family-centered care helps you manage life with diabetes. Our care team will help you and your child understand and follow treatment guidelines, and incorporate good diet and exercise habits into your family’s lifestyle. Through one-on-one support from our care team as well as our comprehensive diabetes classes, we empower your child and you to take control of your child’s health.
- Your child will receive care from experienced pediatric endocrinologists. Our doctors are also researchers who are seeking new ways to improve diagnosis and treatment for children of all ages with diabetes.
Diagnosing and Evaluating Your Child’s Type 2 Diabetes
Your pediatrician may have already diagnosed your child’s diabetes through blood and urine tests. After you've been referred, your pediatric endocrinologist will do a thorough exam and additional tests to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate your child’s health.
The doctor will:
- Learn about your child’s health history, eating and exercise habits, and when your child began gaining weight. (Most children and teens diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight.)
- Order blood and urine tests to find out whether any hormone imbalances or other problems might have caused your child’s weight gain or made them prone to diabetes. Depending on the results, your doctor may perform additional tests, such as sleep studies or imaging exams.
- Evaluate your child’s weight and the percentage of muscle and fat in their body.
- Ask your child a few questions to evaluate their mental health and screen for depression. We perform this screening yearly to make sure your child gets the support they need.
TYPE 2 DIABETES IN CHILDREN
Treatments and Services
Diabetes changes over time, so your child's care team will adapt your child's treatment plan as needed.
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Metformin is a medication that lowers the amount of sugar released by the liver into the bloodstream. It increases the effect of insulin, which helps lower blood sugar. Medicine alone won’t control type 2 diabetes; your child will still need to manage their diet and exercise and control their weight.
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Daily insulin injections may be necessary to manage daily blood sugar levels. Our diabetes educators will teach you and your child how to test blood sugar and give injections. They’re knowledgeable about the latest glucose monitoring and insulin delivery devices -- such as pens, injections, and pumps -- and can help you and your child find what’s right for your circumstances. Our social workers can provide information about your child’s condition and care needs to their teachers, sports coaches, and others.
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Eating right to maintain healthy weight and blood sugar levels is crucial for managing type 2 diabetes. Physical activity is also an essential part of your child’s treatment plan. Duke Children’s diabetes educators and dietitians can teach you and your family about nutrition, menu planning, and ways to adopt a healthy diet. In addition, weight-control and exercise specialists can offer your child expert guidance through the Duke Healthy Lifestyles program.
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Twice each month, our diabetes educators lead comprehensive diabetes management classes that focus on all aspects of living with diabetes -- including what diabetes is, what you can eat, how to avoid complications, and exercise and diabetes. Classes for children over 16 cover advanced topics, such as how to transition into living with diabetes as an adult.
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Regular checkups ensure your child is managing the physical and psychological aspects of living with diabetes. Blood sugar levels are monitored using urine and blood tests, including a blood test (A1C or glycated hemoglobin test) that measures blood sugar levels over the previous three months. Your pediatric endocrinologist will evaluate your child’s kidney, thyroid, and liver function, as well as their blood pressure and physical growth. They will also refer your child to a pediatric eye doctor for regular eye exams. These checkups help prevent common diabetes complications, such as vision problems.