Three-year-old girl youngest ever to be diagnosed with diabetes

Stock photo of a diabetes test. Victor CC/BY

MANILA, Philippines - A toddler from Texas is the youngest child ever to be diagnosed with Diabetes.

In a study reported at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2015 Meeting, the doctors were alarmed after finding out that at a young age, the girl has developed a type 2 diabetes.

People with type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but their cells do not use it as they should. This is often called insulin resistance. According to webdm.com, Type 2 diabetes can be caused by genes, extra weight, metabolic cysdrome, too much gucose in liver or bad communication between cells.

Most children are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, one which is not related to lifestyle but rather caused by immune system attacking cells that regulate blood control.

The doctors believed that uncontolled diet and lack of exercise were the reason why the toddler had acquired diabetes.

Across the globe, child obesity is a growing dilemma as more and more children at a young age suffer from type 2 diabetes.

Michael Yafi, MD, director of pediatric endocrinology at the University of Texas Health Science Center and author of the case report, said that misconceptions about diabetes should be debunked.

Meanwhile, the Hispanic girl was been given treatment and measures to improve her diet and exercise since finding out about her case. Six months after improving her lifestyle, the girl no longer needed medication and her blood sugars returned to normal. 

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