May 16, 2014 – Too Much Diabetes

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ANCHOR LEAD: WHAT DO WE MAKE OF THE DRAMATIC RISE IN DIABETES IN US YOUTH?  ELIZABETH TRACEY REPORTS

Diabetes of both types, known as type 1 where cells in the pancreas that make the hormone insulin are destroyed, and type 2, where cells elsewhere in the body seem insensitive to insulin, are increasing dramatically among American youth, a recent study reports.  Redonda Miller, an internal medicine expert at Johns Hopkins, comments.

MILLER: I think the increase in prevalence of type 2 diabetes was not good news but perhaps not surprising in the sense that the prevalence of obesity has also gone up, particularly childhood obesity.  The type 1 diabetes, and the increase in prevalence of type 1, that did catch me by surprise.  We’ve argued in the past, is this an autoimmune disease, is it related to unknown viral infections, what are the triggers for type 1 diabetes?  I’m concerned that we don’t know these triggers and they’re increasing.  :32

The clear concern is the earlier diabetes develops the more likely long term complications will also, at an earlier age. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.