Type 2 diabetes and diabetes risk factors in children and adolescents

Long considered a disease of older adults, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is now affecting children. While the prevalence and incidence of type 2 DM are not yet established in children, the number of affected individuals continues to climb. At the same time, obesity, the primary risk factor for type 2 DM, has become epidemic, affecting all ethnic and demographic groups across the United States. The lifestyle trends contributing to both of these phenomena include changes in dietary patterns and habits, declining levels of physical activity, and increasing sedentary behaviors. In response to these problems, the medical profession must become proactive with its patients and in the community.