icon-nav-help
Need Help

Submit your question to our team of health care professionals.

icon-nav-current-questions
Current Question

See what's on the mind of the community right now.

icon-conf-speakers-at-a-glance
Meet the Team

Learn more about our world-renowned team.

icon-nav-archives
CWD Answers Archives

Review the entire archive according to the date it was posted.

CWD_Answers_Icon
February 19, 2001

Research: Causes and Prevention

advertisement
Question from Louisville, Kentucky, USA:

I work in a school and I have seen many, many young people with diabetes. It almost seem epidemic. What is causing so many people to get this terrible disease? Why did you not hear about diabetes 20-30 years ago or less? Why are so many children, young people and adults getting this disease? What are we doing wrong? Why isn’t there a requirement that all children have periodic tests for diabetes? I know diabetes comes on quickly. Couldn’t this help as a preventive measure?

Answer:

From: DTeam Staff

There has indeed been an increase in the incidence of diabetes in recent years, both of type 1 and type 2. In the case of type 1, this is presumably due to an increased exposure to one of the environmental triggers. Exactly what this might be is not known, but there seems to be a definite association with a more sedentary lifestyle and a growing dependance on high fat foods and type 2 diabetes in young people, which is increasing all over the world.

DOB