Nov. 13, 2021

Most of the time, whenever we hear a child has diabetes, the assumption is that it must be Type 1 diabetes. This seems logical based on past thinking; however, if you have watched the progression of Type 2 diabetes over the past 30 years, the one constant, regardless of treatment options, is the lowering of the age of onset.

When I first came out of school back in the “Dark Ages,” Type 2 was always thought of as a disease of old people. Over the past 30 years, just as we have watched global temperatures rise, we have seen the age of diagnosis of Type 2 fall. Now, many of our colleagues are treating teens and pre-teens for Type 2.

This diagnosis is often hard for parents to acknowledge, and it is likely they will refute the testing methods. In order for you to give parents the most persuasive information, our intern, Joan Prifti, PharmD. Candidate, LECOM College of Pharmacy, looked at the current research and has prepared an overview of the best methods for accurate diagnosis.

Check out How to Diagnose Children with Diabetes, for the best ways to be correct.

 

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We can make a difference!

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Dave Joffe

Editor-in-chief