Type 2 Diabetes: A Lifestyle Illness In Teens

It’s already a frightening thought that diabetes is on the rise amongst young people in the U.S. One out of four American teens have been diagnosed or are at risk of type 2 diabetes. But what worries many doctors, researchers, and parents is the fact that standard therapy that’s affective in adults with type 2 diabetes, is not as affective in kids.

Shannon, a 16-year-old, with type 2 diabetes is one of 3,600 cases of diabetes in teens diagnosed each year. Living a sedentary, non-social, isolated life, did not help with her diagnosis. But doctors believe that this disease is definitely preventable. It has become a lifestyle illness, and is a large outcome of a number of social changes that began in the 70s, leading to more sedentary opportunities. Watch to learn more!