Managing type 2 diabetes in children and young people: challenges and solutions.

Abstract

Growing numbers of children and young people are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, partly due to the obesogenic environment they grow up in. The increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes is seen particularly in adolescent girls and in children and young people of non-white ethnic backgrounds. There are numerous challenges relating to the diagnosis, treatment and management of type 2 diabetes in children and young people, notably the fact that the condition can lead to serious complications and often triggers high levels of anxiety and stress in patients and families. This article outlines the challenges faced by children and young people with type 2 diabetes, their families and carers, and suggests ways in which nurses can support them with the aim of achieving optimal management and self-management.