Cases of type 2 diabetes among children more than doubled during the coronavirus pandemic, research finds

Dr. Daniel Hsia, Associate Professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and colleagues studied the hospitalization rate for emerging type 2 diabetes in children at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

From March to December 2019, the rate was 0.27% – 8 cases out of 2,964 hospitalizations. Over the same period in 2020, the rate rose to 0.62% – 17 cases out of 2,729 hospital admissions.

“Those are very small numbers,” Hsia told CNN. “We’re one hospital, but we think we’re a microcosm of what’s happening across the country.”

Type 2 diabetes is by far the most common type of diabetes and has been linked to obesity, poor diet, and sedentary lifestyle.

Of the 25 cases of type 2 diabetes in both years, 23 were black children, the team found. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children of Black, Latin American, Asian, Native American, Alaskan, and Pacific islanders may be at increased risk for type 2 diabetes. Hsia said these existing health disparities may have worsened as the pandemic progressed.

“Risk factors for type 2 diabetes can worsen at a time like this when they have to stay home and have no access to healthy foods and physical activity, and have difficulty sleeping,” said Hsia.

Children admitted for type 2 diabetes in 2020 had more severe symptoms than children admitted in 2019, the team said. They had higher blood sugar levels and signs of increased dehydration – caused when the body tries to get rid of excess glucose by urinating.

Dr. Lily Chao, interim director of medical diabetes at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, said she saw the same trend in her hospital, particularly with ketoacidosis, a serious complication of diabetes that occurs when the body doesn’t have enough insulin.

“Historically, the rates for people with type 2 diabetes in our hospital have fluctuated between 5% and 10%,” said Chao. “Over the past year, our rates have increased to up to 20% of new type 2 diabetes cases presenting in this severe condition.”

Chao noted that her hospital primarily caters to a Latinx population.

“There have been reports of new onset diabetes occurring after someone becomes infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” Chao said. “We know that the Covid pandemic has disproportionately affected people of color. What we don’t know is how many of these cases are related to previous exposure to the virus.”

A new way of life

Andrew Aparicio, a 17-year-old patient with Chao, said it was about a year ago when he suffered from stomach cramps and fatigue. At first he thought it could be the coronavirus.

“I didn’t eat. I slept most of the day and did nothing,” said Aparicio.

His father took him to the hospital, where he stayed for a week and was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Aparicio said the news came as a shock.

“I left the hospital pretty traumatized,” said Aparicio. “What happened to me really scared me.”

Aparicio said he weighed about 257 pounds at the time. “Since I was stuck at home all day, I would just eat. Covid kind of messed me up.”

He started taking medication, planning exercise, and eating healthier diets.

“Andrew’s case is really inspiring,” said Chao. “It is extremely difficult for many of our young people to achieve what motivation they have to stay so physically active and practice this discipline.”

A year later and about 120 pounds lighter, Aparicio is ready to begin his senior year of high school. He no longer needs the same amount of medication to treat his diabetes and says that in a few months he may be able to take some of the medication completely – a sign that he is much better.

“Overall, I am both mentally and physically happy with the change I have been able to achieve,” he said. “I have a whole new lifestyle.”

A growing problem

Children and adolescents almost never got type 2 diabetes until recently, according to the CDC, which now says the condition is a growing problem in pediatric patients.

“Developing diabetes at this age is very different from developing diabetes as an adult,” said Chao. “The complications come earlier. It’s a much more progressive condition.”

Hsia says additional research is needed to understand the factors causing the increase in cases, but the lifestyle changes associated with the pandemic – including less physical activity and more screen time – could encourage weight gain in children.

“The small changes in weight and the small amount of weight gain can certainly turn the tide and lead to someone developing type 2 diabetes,” said Hsia.

Doctors say symptoms to look out for include increased fatigue, thirst, urination, and sudden, unexplained weight loss.

The CDC says that having a family member with type 2 diabetes, giving birth to a mother with diabetes during pregnancy and conditions related to insulin resistance can put children at increased risk. The agency advises children who are overweight and have a combination of risk factors to contact their doctor to have their blood sugar tested.

source https://dailyhealthynews.ca/cases-of-type-2-diabetes-among-children-more-than-doubled-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-research-finds/