NIH finds increases in type 2 diabetes in youth

The National Institutes (NIH) of Health and National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK) have studied and just released estimates of the incidence of type 2 diabetes in youth.

There findings coincided with World Diabetes Day. About 154, 000 youth in the U.S. have diabetes. From data originating from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2006, one in 523 youth younger than 20 years has diabetes. About 79 percent of that group range in ages from 10 to 19 years.

The theme of the World Diabetes Day this year and next year focuses on diabetes in youth. The International Diabetes Federation sponsored the World Diabetes Day and was able to get the endorsement of the United Nations.

To give teens a place to deal with their diabetes, HealthCentral has launched its youth diabetes site, Diabeteens.