Is there another form of diabetes?
There are two main types of diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2. Unlike people with Type 1, those with Type 2 still have some insulin-producing cells, but either not enough insulin is produced or it doesn’t work properly. In most cases, Type 2 is linked with being overweight and usually appears in people over the age of 40 or over 25 in Black and South Asian people.
Recently, however, more children are being diagnosed with Type 2. Type 2 diabetes is treated with lifestyle changes, such as a healthy diet, weight loss and increased physical activity. Medication, including insulin, may also be required.
There are also other, quite rare forms of diabetes, such as Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY) and neonatal diabetes. More information about these conditions can be found at http://projects.exeter.ac.uk/diabetesgenes.
How many children have Type 1?
About 20,000 children in the UK have Type 1. Overall, around 3 million people in the UK are diagnosed with diabetes (Type 1 and 2). There are potential complications associated with the condition. These include a higher chance of developing problems in later life, such as heart disease or damage to the kidneys, eyes or nerves.
However, you can greatly reduce your child’s risk by helping them to control their blood glucose levels, encouraging them to eat healthily and helping them to be physically active on a regular basis.