health check
which we know can cause all
sorts of complications.”
But type 2 that develops in
childhood or adolescence is also
known to simply act differently
compared with the later-onset
variety or type 1. A 2016 study
confirmed exactly that. People
who developed early onset type
2 had a much greater risk of
life-threatening kidney problems
and the nerve complications that
can lead to amputation, as well
as shorter life spans, than people
who became diabetic when they
were middle aged, regardless
of how many years they had
been living with the disease.
“It’s an extremely aggressive
disease,” says Professor Wales.
“Young people with type 2 often
already have diabetes-related
complications, such as kidney
damage, as well as comorbidities
like high blood pressure, when
they’re diagnosed.”Not only are the effects of type
2 typically more severe when it
occurs in children and teenagers,
the risk of complications is
greater and treatment is more
difficult, so the ‘lifetime costs’ are
significantly higher, compared
with people who develop type 2
later in life. Research conducted
at Australia’s Baker Heart &
Diabetes Institute last year shows
that a younger age at diagnosis of
type 2 diabetes means a 30 per
cent greater risk of death from
any cause, and a 60 per cent
greater risk of dying from
cardiovascular disease, compared
with people who develop the
disease 10 years later.
“In part,” says Associate
Professor Andrikopoulos, “this
is because the earlier you develop
type 2 diabetes, the longer you’re
exposed to it and the adverse
effects that can go hand in hand
with it, such as hyperglycaemia,In Australia the children
and adolescents who are
most at risk of developing
type 2 diabetes are those
who are overweight or
obese and have any two
of the following:Blood relatives with
type 2. Australian research
not only shows that a family
history of diabetes means as
much as six times the risk of
developing the disease, but
that type 2 develops earlier
in families where there are
more cases of the condition.Signs of insulin resistance
that have been diagnosed
by a doctor.An Aboriginal or Pacific
Islander background. That
can increase a child’s risk
of developing type 2 by up
to eight times. Other high-
risk ethnic groups include
Maori, Asian, Middle
Eastern, North African
and Southern European.THE RISK
FAC TO R S
Diet and exercise can
help alleviate the risk