Until recently, young children and teens rarely got type 2 diabetes, which is why it used to be called adult-onset diabetes.

Weight Matters

People who are overweight - especially if they have excess belly fat - are more likely to have insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that acts like a key to let blood sugar into cells for use as energy. Because of heredity (traits inherited from family members) or lifestyle (eating too much and moving too little), cells can stop responding normally to insulin.

Activity Matters

Being physically active lowers the risk for type 2 diabetes because it helps the body use insulin better. Physical activity improves health in lots of other ways, too.

Age Matters

Kids who get type 2 diabetes are usually diagnosed in their early teens. That’s an important reason to help your kids take charge of their health while they’re young.