title: Pediatric obesity & type 2 diabetes.
abstract: This article focuses on (a) identifying obesity and other risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes, (b) differentiating between pediatric type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes, and (c) treating pediatric type 2 diabetes. Obesity has significant implications on a child's health, including an increased risk for insulin resistance and progression to type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes in children, characterized by insulin resistance and relative pancreatic b-cell failure due to the increased demand for insulin production, has now reached epidemic proportions. Longitudinal research on pediatric type 2 diabetes, however, is lacking because this epidemic is relatively new. Treatment of type 2 diabetes in children is focused on lifestyle modification with weight management/increased physical activity, and pharmacological management through oral medication or insulin therapy. Because children with type 2 diabetes are at risk for developing diabetes-related complications earlier in life, they need to be closely monitored for comorbidities.
authors.affiliation: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Dea@email.chop.edu
authors.forename: Tara L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Dea
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology