There's new reason to worry about the rising tide of diabetes in children and young adults.
In a 4-year study with 700 kids, doctors found that Type 2 diabetes - the kind linked with obesity - progresses faster in kids, and is harder to treat.
Regardless what combination of drugs, exercise, and diet were used, the diabetes was tougher to control.
And medications that work well in adults often fail within a few years in children.
Poor control can set the stage for heart disease, eye problems, amputations, and kidney failure.
And the longer a person has the disease, the higher the risk.
Type 2 diabetes was virtually unheard of in children. Although it is still uncommon, it is rising quickly. Research on it lags, however. 2005 is the most recent year for which hard numbers are available. But with obesity in the U.S and world escalating, Tyupe 2 will probably get a lot more attention in the future.
