Diabetes in Children

Type 1

Type 1 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in children and adolescents, accounting for over 90% of diabetes in this age group. It is an autoimmune disease where the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are destroyed. This leads to total insulin deficiency and requires management by insulin therapy for life.

The annual incidence rate of Type 1 diabetes in Australia is 17.8 per 100,000 population (NSW 2003).

Click on the Type 1 Diabetes Related Links to access information on:

• management guidelines,
• specialist centres in Australia and New Zealand; and
• National and International websites with information and research on Type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents.

Type 2

Type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing in children and adolescents, accounting for approximately 5 percent of diabetes in this age group in Australia

The cause is unknown. There may be predominantly insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency or predominantly a defect in the secretion of insulin with or without insulin resistance.

Over 80% of children and adolescents diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes have a positive family history for Type 2 diabetes.

Lifestyle factors such as insufficient exercise and overeating lead to obesity which is a major risk factor for the onset of Type 2 diabetes during childhood and adolescence.

The principles of treatment for Type 2 diabetes in the young are:

• Lifestyle changes
• Weight reduction if the patient is obese
• Exercise and a healthy lifestyle
• Carbohydrate and fat-controlled diet
• Medication may be required