August 6, 2000
Diagnosis and Symptoms, Medications: Pills for Diabetes
Question from El Paso, Texas, USA:
My 11 year old niece was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I thought children only got type 1. She has been told she is overweight and advised to exercise. She was started on a pill called Glucophage [metformin, a pill for Type 2 diabetes]. I was told, by parents with a child who has diabetes, that children cannot be on pills, only insulin. What risks are we taking by giving her the Glucophage?
Answer:
Type 2 occurs at all ages, yes, even in an 11 year old. Our research has shown a doubling of type 2 in 5 years in Florida. So put the question about type 2 occurring in children to rest, it does happen.
Why? Obesity in America is likely. There has been a doubling of the number of obese children in 30 years (Center for Disease Control data). What is the treatment? It is the same as other type 2 patients. Actually, the FDA is set to approve Glucophage (metformin) for type 2 children. In the meantime nearly every pediatric endocrinologist uses it because it works.
LD
