New-onset diabetes, also known as type 2 diabetes, is a chronic condition characterized by insulin resistance that is becoming more common in children. It requires long-term treatment, including regular monitoring of blood glucose levels, medication, and dietary changes. Risk factors include age, family history, lack of physical activity, and obesity. Symptoms include excessive thirst and hunger, fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and impaired sensory perception. Treatment involves proactive measures to maintain adequate blood glucose levels, including regular exercise, medication, and dietary changes.
New-onset diabetes is a potentially serious condition that negatively affects the body’s ability to regulate glucose. Also known as type 2 diabetes, new-onset diabetes is characterized by a form of insulin resistance that has historically affected individuals in adulthood; in recent years, however, diagnoses of this disease are becoming more common in children. Treatment of this chronic condition is long-term and requires regular monitoring of blood glucose levels and, in some cases, the administration of medications and supplemental insulin therapy.
Insulin resistance usually results from impaired pancreatic function. Normally, the pancreas is the main center for the production, storage and regulation of insulin. Working closely with the liver, which produces and houses extra glucose, the pancreas helps keep blood glucose levels stable. In the presence of insulin resistance, glucose does not respond to the pancreatic release of insulin by breaking down to feed various cells throughout the body. Sugar, on the other hand, accumulates in the blood completely indifferent to the presence of insulin; resistance can also occur if the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to motivate proper sugar dispersion.
While there is no known definitive cause for the sudden development of new-onset diabetes in some individuals, there are several factors that can contribute to its occurrence. Individuals of older age or those with a family history of diabetes appear to have a higher risk of becoming symptomatic. Lack of physical activity and obesity also appear to play a role in the development of diabetes symptoms.
Individuals with this type of diabetes can experience a variety of signs and symptoms. Commonly, those with unstable blood sugar levels may develop excessive thirst and hunger. Some may demonstrate pronounced fatigue, unintentional weight loss, and impaired sensory perception, such as blurred vision. It is also not uncommon for diabetic individuals to develop an increased susceptibility to infection or experience prolonged recovery. If untreated, type 2 diabetes can contribute to the progressive development of life-threatening conditions, including impaired organ function, widespread organ failure, and premature death.
For most individuals, a diagnosis of new-onset diabetes is established with the administration of a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test, which determines the amount of sugar-laden hemoglobin in the blood. The test readings are complex enough to trend blood glucose as early as three months old. In cases where administering an A1C test is not feasible, traditional blood tests can be used to read one’s blood sugar levels over a specific period of time.
Treatment for new-onset diabetes generally requires proactive measures to maintain adequate blood glucose levels. Individuals generally need to monitor blood sugar levels by taking readings several times a day. Regular exercise is often suggested to promote weight loss for obese or overweight individuals and as a healthy way to help control blood glucose levels. Medications and supplemental insulin therapy may be recommended for people with symptoms that prove difficult to manage. Dietary changes are essential to ensure the body is getting the proper nutrients, while also promoting a healthy weight and preventing symptoms from worsening.
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