Pediatric Diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2

When your child has diabetes, your child's body has a problem with insulin. It doesn't make enough insulin. Or it can't use the insulin it makes (insulin resistance). Insulin is a hormone. It helps sugar (glucose) enter the cells to be used as energy. Without insulin, too much sugar stays in the blood.

There are three main types of diabetes. They are called type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes.

Prediabetes is when blood sugar levels are higher than normal. But they aren't high enough to be diabetes. Many people with prediabetes will have type 2 diabetes within 10 years. More than 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. have prediabetes. Most of them don't know they have it. They don't know the health risks it causes. Prediabetes raises the risk for heart disease and stroke.

Things that raise your child's risk for prediabetes include:

• Excess weight
• Being age 35 or older
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• History of gestational diabetes
• Family history of diabetes
• Not being physically active

Your child has a higher risk of prediabetes if they are:

• African American
• Hispanic American
• American Indian
• Pacific Islander
• Asian American

Your child may be able to delay or even prevent type 2 diabetes. Your child can do this with some lifestyle changes:

• Lose excess weight. Losing 5% to 7% of your child's weight can help if they are overweight. Losing 10% or more of your child's weight and keeping that weight off usually gives your child even greater benefits. Your child's type 2 diabetes may go into remission.
• Get more exercise. Aim for 150 minutes or more a week of medium to high intensity aerobic activity. Don't let more than two days go by without being active. Experts advise all adults to spend less time sitting and being inactive. This is even more important if your child has type 2 diabetes. Get up for some light activity every 30 minutes if your child does sit for a long time.

Ask your child's healthcare provider to refer them to a lifestyle intervention program. This will help them get to and stay at a 7% weight loss. It will help your child boost their physical activity.

The pancreas makes insulin. Insulin is needed for glucose to move into the body's cells for energy.

When your child has diabetes, their pancreas makes little or no insulin. Or your child's body's cells don’t respond to the insulin that’s made. This causes sugar to build up in the blood. But your child's body's cells need sugar. Without it, they don't have enough fuel to work as they should.

The 3 main types of diabetes all lead to a buildup of blood sugar. Each type causes problems with insulin. But each type has a different cause and treatment.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. This means it's caused by the body's immune system. It destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Then your child's body makes little or no insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day to live. About 1 in 20 people with diabetes have type 1. People are more at risk if they have a parent or sibling with type 1 diabetes.

Most people are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when they are a child, teen or young adult. But your child may be diagnosed at any age. Caucasian Americans are at higher risk for type 1 diabetes. There is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes happens when the body can't make enough insulin. Or the body can't use it normally. Your child may be able to control type 2 with diet, exercise, and weight loss. Your child can control it by taking medicine by mouth. Or your child may need insulin injections or other medicine. Most people with diabetes have type 2.

Things that put your child at risk for type 2 diabetes include:

• Prediabetes
• Excess weight
• Family history of type 2 diabetes
• Being age 35 or older
• History of gestational diabetes
• Not being physically active

Your child may be at higher risk if they are:

• African American
• Hispanic American
• American Indian
• Alaska Native
• Pacific Islander
• Asian American

Your child can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes with:

• Physical activity
• Weight loss
• Healthy eating

This type only happens in pregnancy. It affects pregnant people who did not have diabetes before. They can't use the insulin their body makes. This type of diabetes often goes away after the baby is born. If not, it likely was not gestational diabetes. It was more likely type 1 or type 2 diabetes that began in pregnancy. 

Gestational diabetes may be controlled with diet and exercise, and by watching weight gain. Your child may need to take medicines to control their blood sugar. Your child may be at higher risk for type 2 later in life.

Things that raise your child's risk for gestational diabetes include:

• History of gestational diabetes
• Being age 25 or older
• Excess weight
• Giving birth in the past to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds
• Family history of diabetes
• PCOS

Your child may be at higher risk if they are:

• African American
• Hispanic American
• American Indian
• Alaska Native
• Native Hawaiian
• Pacific Islander

Your child may be able to prevent gestational diabetes by:

• Losing excess weight
• Eating a healthy diet
• Exercising

Except for gestational diabetes, diabetes is an ongoing (chronic) disease. This means that it can't be cured. It affects nearly every part of the body. It may lead to other serious diseases. And it can be life-threatening. Your child must work with a healthcare provider to manage their diabetes. With good blood sugar control, your child may prevent the serious complications of the disease. Or your child can stop them from getting worse.

Complications of diabetes can include:

• Eye problems and blindness
• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Nervous system problems
• Loss of a limb
• Kidney disease
• Impotence

Many things in your child's daily life impact your health. This can include transportation, money problems, housing and access to food. If your child can’t get to medical appointments, they may not receive the care you need. When money is tight, it may be difficult to pay for medicines. And living far from a grocery store can make it hard to buy healthy food.

If your child has concerns in any of these or other areas, talk with your child's healthcare team. They may know of local resources to assist your child. Or they may have a staff person who can help.