Preventing Type 2 diabetes in children can include small, simple changes to increase daily physical activity and eat a healthier diet. Even a small amount of weight loss can help prevent or delay diabetes.

Published: December 14, 2022 | Updated: March 1, 2023

Preventing or delaying the onset of Type 2 diabetes in children can include small, simple changes to increase daily physical activity and eat a healthier diet. Even a small amount of weight loss can help prevent or delay diabetes.

In Kentucky, 23.8% of kids ages 10 to 17 are obese. That’s the highest obesity rate in the country among this age group, according to the State of Childhood Obesity: Helping All Children Grow Up Healthy project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Obesity puts kids at risk for Type 2 diabetes. Weight gain and physical inactivity cause the body to need more insulin to process sugar for energy, a condition called insulin resistance. At first, the body is able to make higher amounts of insulin, but over time may not be able to keep up. When the body isn’t able to make enough insulin for all of the sugar to enter the cells, the sugar builds up in the blood, leading to Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes was thought to be very rare in children before the 1990s. In fact, it was so rare that Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult-onset diabetes. Unfortunately, Type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents is no longer rare. And studies show that Type 2 diabetes in children progresses more rapidly and is harder to treat than in adults.

Poorly controlled diabetes significantly increases risks for heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, eye conditions, nerve damage, amputation and kidney failure. The longer a person has diabetes, the greater the risk for these complications. That means children who develop diabetes may experience complications much earlier in life than those diagnosed as adults.

The good news is that there are ways to lower the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.  

Healthy weight helps prevent Type 2 diabetes in children

To help children reach and maintain a healthy weight, specialists at Norton Children’s Endocrinology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, recommend the following:

• Begin at birth. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity.
• Watch food intake. Control meal portions, snacks and sugary drinks.
• Eat healthy. Serve five portions of fruits and/or vegetables every day. Make healthy snack foods easy to find in the kitchen — place grapes, carrots or plain popcorn on the counter.
• Limit fast food. If you have to hit the drive-thru, choose salads or grilled sandwiches and hold the mayo; order the kid-sized meal.
• Drink more water. Add fresh fruit or veggies, such as strawberries or slices of cucumber, to add variety.
• Be active as a family. Schedule one hour of exercise every day. It doesn’t have to be a formal workout at a gym. Turn up the music and dance; play games like tag or hide-and-seek; go for walks; go to the park; play interactive video games.
• Limit television/computer time. Limit noneducational screen time to two hours each day.
• Set small, attainable goals. Post goals and acknowledge them daily; reward successes with nonfood items.
• Know your child’s weight. Discuss ways to prevent Type 2 diabetes with your child’s pediatrician.

Signs of diabetes in children

Children with Type 2 diabetes often do not feel differently. However, these are some common symptoms:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent or nighttime urination
• Blurry vision
• Unusual fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss

If you notice any of these, contact your child’s pediatrician.

Reviewed by Sara E. Watson, M.D., pediatric endocrinologist with Norton Children’s Endocrinology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine