Childhood Cases of Type Two Diabetes on the Rise

Type two diabetes, often called adult-onset diabetes, is putting increasing numbers of children at risk. Until recent years, the disease seldom occurred in children. In 1993, the Texas Children's Hospital Diabetes Care Center treated approximately 900 patients with diabetes, 18 of which were type two. This year the center will see some 1,000 patients, but the type two census has increased to 84, almost five times that of six years ago.

Unhealthy diets and lack of exercise are the main contributing factors to the increase, according to Barbara Schreiner, associate director of the center.

"Obesity is driving type two diabetes in children, just like in adults," she says. "Kids are sedentary and eat too many fast foods. Also, many schools don't have physical education programs, or they have cut activity time."

People with type two diabetes are usually unable to produce enough insulin, or they can produce it but the body cannot use it properly. Symptoms of type two diabetes include: increased thirst; increased urination; skin infections that don't heal; and darkened pigmentation of skin folds.

Most of the children the center sees are between 10 and 16 years old, although some are as young as 8. In both children and adults, type two diabetes is more common in ethnic groups, including African-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans.

If the disease is detected in its early stages, it often can be managed with diet and exercise, Schreiner says. If this approach does not work, medication may be necessary.

Early diagnosis is especially important because of complications - heart attacks, strokes, blindness and amputations - caused by long-term damage to blood vessels.

- From Texas Children's Hospital

Beware! Backpacks can be a Real Pain for Children

Although a backpack can be a student's best friend, it can also lead to serious back problems if worn incorrectly. Backpacks were originally designed to increase a person's carrying capacity by keeping the weight close to the body. But improper positioning and bad posture can place pressure on the spine, a pitfall that parents of school-aged children should recognize.

"In general, backpacks are a good idea," says Dr. Stephen Esses of the Baylor College of Medicine Institute for Spinal Disorders. "But when they are heavy, they place a huge stress on the back. If the back muscles are not strong and healthy and the backpack is not properly positioned, there could be a problem."

The spine consists of a stack of bones, or vertebrae, with disks located between each layer. Because there is no fundamental structural stability in the spinal column, posture is controlled solely by the surrounding muscles. The spines of younger children are especially susceptible to backpack-related injuries because they do not have the well-developed muscles and spinal control found in teenagers and adults.

To reduce the risk of injury, Dr. Esses suggests: Positioning the backpack so it rests between the shoulder blades and is centered in the middle back; choosing a style that has wide, padded shoulder straps; considering a child's individual muscular development, in addition to their size, when determining a safe weight range; maintaining proper posture; helping the child get the backpack on and off.

- From Baylor College of Medicine

Inhalant Abuse Becoming More Prevalent Among Children

Inhalant abuse is a silent epidemic on the rise in Texas.

A recent Texas School Survey of Substance Use indicated that about 15 percent of all elementary students in fourth through sixth grades had used inhalants. In addition, over the last three years, inhalants are the only substances that have increased in usage among Texas school-age children.

"Huffing" is a form of inhalant abuse in which vapors or fumes are inhaled through the mouth to obtain a quick high. Also known as "sniffing" or "solvent abuse," this harmful activity can cause short- and long-term health problems, including brain damage.

"Although inhalants rank fourth behind alcohol, marijuana and cigarettes in usage, they are the most dangerous in regard to risk of death in the short term," says Dr. Todd Vedder, inhalant abuse expert at Texas Children's.

A child can die from using inhalants only once. Common household products like spray paint, cooking sprays, air freshener and butane can be sprayed into cans and small plastic bags or onto clothing so the concentrated vapors can be inhaled. Ten to 15 seconds of huffing might produce a high that lasts 10 to 15 minutes.

Texas Children's physicians encourage parents and teachers to look for clues that a child might be huffing or abusing other inhalants. These signs include: Unusual breath odor or clothing that smells like chemicals; slurred or disoriented speech; spots or sores around the mouth; chronic runny nose and red eyes; paint or stains on body or clothing; and drunken, dazed or glassy-eyed look.

- From Texas Children's Hospital