A 25-year-old member asked:
How does being obese cause type 2 diabetes in a child?
3 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

Dr. James Fergusonanswered
Pediatrics 47 years experience
Insulin resistance: Type 2 diabetes occurs when the Insulin produced by a patient does not do all the work needed to keep blood sugar levels in the normal range. Consider Insulin a taxi that transports glucose to cells. If the taxi, s are moving slow, or the cells are not letting glucose off, the glucose waiting around for transport builds up. Obesity can create Insulin resistance not present at normal weight.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Patricia Vuguinanswered
Pediatrics 34 years experience
Pancreatic failure: Usually you become diabetic when your pancreas can not overcome the extra work that implies been obese.
6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago

A Verified Doctoranswered
29 years experience
Insulin resistance: Obesity puts a strain on the pancreas so that it has to make more Insulin to compensate for the increased demand of obesity. Unfortunately, we're seeing type 2 dm in children even as young as 4 years-old. The pancreas simply poops out and can't keep up with the Insulin demands of the obese body. This is when type 2 dm develops.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 32-year-old member asked:
Difference of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in obesity?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

Dr. Quang Nguyenanswered
Specializes in Endocrinology
Bad for both: Obesity can adversely affect diabetes control for both type 1 and type 2. In general, type 2 patients are more obese because of Insulin resistance. For both group, exercise/diet control remains key in controlling diabetes.
5.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Sep 28, 2016
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