By: Richard L. Smith
Health experts are sounding the alarm over the growing number of children being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes across the United States, with Black and Hispanic youth continuing to face some of the highest risks.
According to information released in JAMA and highlighted through research supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), cases of Type 2 diabetes among children and teenagers have risen sharply over the last two decades.
Researchers found that the number of young people between the ages of 10 and 19 living with Type 2 diabetes nearly doubled between 2001 and 2017.
The report noted that the largest increases were seen among Black and Hispanic children.
Health officials say the rise is linked to several factors, including childhood obesity, poor access to healthy foods, limited recreational opportunities in some communities, and broader health inequities that disproportionately affect minority families.
The issue has also become a growing concern in New Jersey, where health advocates have continued to push for better nutrition programs, increased physical activity initiatives, and improved healthcare access in urban communities such as Newark, Paterson, Camden, and Trenton.
A separate study published in JAMA Network Open found that Black and Hispanic youth often experienced worse long-term blood sugar control compared to white children, highlighting continuing racial disparities in diabetes outcomes.
Researchers also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to worsen the problem.
One study reported a 62% increase in new Type 2 diabetes diagnoses among youth after the pandemic began, with Black and Hispanic children seeing some of the sharpest increases.
Medical experts warn that children diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes face a greater risk of developing serious complications earlier in life, including heart disease, kidney damage, and vision problems.
The American Diabetes Association estimates that thousands of children nationwide are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes every year, adding to concerns that the disease is becoming increasingly common at younger ages.