Millions of American teens at risk for Diabetes

New analysis at the University of Washington shows that nearly 2.8 million teenagers in the United States could be on the brink of developing Type 2 diabetes, which used to be almost exclusive to adults. Another 39,000 teens might already have the disease. The findings support the growing concerns of public-health authorities nationwide over the increasing number of kids who are overweight. This is a major factor in the development of Type 2 diabetes which can eventually lead to kidney failure, limb amputations, blindness, heart disease, strokes and high blood pressure.

Health agencies in the US say about 18.2 million people in the country have diabetes, including 210,000 people under 20 years old. Another 1.3 million new cases a year are being diagnosed, and the majority are Type 2, which was formerly almost exclusive to people older than 40. Type 2 diabetics are not able to use the insulin made by their bodies to metabolize glucose in the body, while those with Type 1, formerly called juvenile diabetes, are not able to make insulin.

Experts spoke about their observance in the reduction in physical activity and an increase in the prevalence of overweight kids. Weight loss and exercise have been shown to prevent pre-diabetes from progressing to full diabetes among adults. This is also believed to be true for young people as well. Family physicians and health officials in the country have been campaigning about keeping young people trim.