Diabetes in Children and Teens: A Guide for Families

Children eating lunch together at a school table — Photo: USDAgov via Wikimedia Commons (Public domain). Image credits

Last reviewed: October 9, 2026 · Sources: CDC, NIH/NIDDK, American Diabetes Association

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and teens. For many years, almost all young people with diabetes had type 1 diabetes, but type 2 diabetes is now increasingly diagnosed in youth too. A diabetes diagnosis affects the whole family, and it can feel overwhelming at first. With education, support, and modern tools, children and teens with diabetes can grow, learn, play sports, and thrive. This guide explains the types of diabetes in young people, warning signs, treatment, school and social life, and the special challenges of the teen years.

Types of diabetes in young people

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is the most common type in children. It is an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The CDC notes that type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, though it can happen at any age, and that there is currently no known way to prevent it. Children with type 1 diabetes need insulin every day. See type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes

The CDC notes that type 2 diabetes is increasingly diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults. Risk factors in youth include having overweight, a family history of type 2 diabetes, belonging to certain racial or ethnic groups, signs of insulin resistance such as dark skin patches in body folds, and being born to a mother who had diabetes during pregnancy. Type 2 diabetes in youth often progresses faster than in adults, which makes early diagnosis and treatment important. See type 2 diabetes.

Other types

Less commonly, young people may have monogenic diabetes, caused by a change in a single gene, or diabetes related to cystic fibrosis or certain medicines. Correctly identifying the type matters because treatment differs.

Warning signs in children

The CDC's symptoms page lists common signs:

Frequent urination
Increased thirst and hunger
Losing weight without trying
Fatigue
Irritability or mood changes
Blurry vision

The CDC specifically notes that in children, unexplained bed-wetting or more frequent accidents in a child who was already toilet trained could be a sign of type 1 diabetes. Type 1 symptoms can come on quickly over weeks. Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fruity-smelling breath, heavy breathing, and drowsiness can signal diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is an emergency. Some children are diagnosed only after they are already in DKA, so knowing the signs matters. See hyperglycemia and DKA.

Type 2 diabetes in youth often has mild or no symptoms and may be found through screening.

Screening

Health professionals may recommend screening for type 2 diabetes in children and teens who have overweight and additional risk factors, usually starting at puberty or around age 10. For type 1 diabetes, research and screening programs can test relatives of people with type 1 for autoantibodies that signal early stages. Ask your child's provider whether screening makes sense.

Treatment for type 1 diabetes in children

Insulin

Children with type 1 diabetes take insulin by injections or an insulin pump. Many families use automated insulin delivery systems, which connect a pump to a continuous glucose monitor and adjust insulin automatically. See insulin basics.

Glucose monitoring

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) are widely used in children. They provide readings every few minutes and alarms for highs and lows, and many allow parents to see readings remotely on a phone. See checking blood sugar and CGMs.

Food

Children with diabetes need the same healthy, balanced nutrition as other children to grow. There is no need for a special "diabetic" diet. Families often learn carbohydrate counting so insulin can be matched to food. See carb counting.

Activity

Play and sports are healthy and encouraged. Activity can lower blood glucose, so children may need extra snacks or insulin adjustments. See exercise and diabetes.

Lows and highs

Parents, caregivers, and teachers should know how to recognize and treat low blood glucose and how to use glucagon for severe lows. Young children may not be able to describe how they feel, so watch for behavior changes such as crankiness, crying, pale skin, or unusual sleepiness. See hypoglycemia.

Treatment for type 2 diabetes in youth

Treatment usually includes healthy eating, physical activity, and family-based lifestyle changes. Metformin is commonly used, and other medicines, including certain GLP-1 receptor agonists and insulin, may be used depending on the situation. The whole family making changes together tends to work better than singling out the child.

Diabetes at school and child care

Children spend much of their day at school, so planning is essential:

Diabetes medical management plan: Your child's health care team writes instructions for insulin, glucose checks, treating lows and highs, and emergencies.
School plans: In the United States, children with diabetes are generally protected under federal laws, and schools often use a written plan (such as a Section 504 plan) to describe accommodations like permission to check glucose, eat snacks, use the restroom, have water, and take breaks.
Trained staff: Make sure staff know how to treat lows and give glucagon.
Supplies: Keep glucose tablets, snacks, testing supplies, and backup insulin at school.
Field trips, sports, and testing days: Plan ahead with the school.

Growing up with diabetes: the teen years

Adolescence brings special challenges:

Hormones: Growth and puberty hormones can increase insulin resistance, so insulin needs often rise.
Independence: Teens gradually take more responsibility for their care. Shared responsibility, with parents staying involved, tends to work better than handing over everything at once.
Social pressures: Teens may skip glucose checks or insulin to fit in. Supportive, nonjudgmental conversations help.
Driving: Teens who use insulin should check glucose before driving and keep fast-acting carbs in the car.
Alcohol and substances: Alcohol can cause dangerous lows. Honest conversations are important. See alcohol and diabetes.
Disordered eating: Some teens, especially those with type 1 diabetes, may restrict insulin to lose weight, which is very dangerous. Watch for unexplained high A1C, weight loss, or DKA, and seek help.
Transition to adult care: In late adolescence or young adulthood, young people move from pediatric to adult diabetes care. Planning this transition helps avoid gaps.

Emotional health and family support

A diagnosis can bring grief, fear, and stress for children and parents. Feelings of burnout are common for both. Diabetes educators, social workers, psychologists, diabetes camps, and peer support groups can help. Watch for signs of depression or anxiety, such as withdrawal, sleep changes, or loss of interest in activities, and talk with your child's care team. See stress and blood sugar.

Regular checkups

Children with diabetes see their diabetes team regularly, often every few months. Visits include checking growth, A1C, and injection or infusion sites. Screening for related conditions, such as thyroid and celiac disease in type 1 diabetes, and for complications in the eyes and kidneys begins at times recommended by the care team.

Resources

MedlinePlus has a helpful page on diabetes in children and teens, and the NIH's NICHD also provides information on diabetes research involving children.

Key takeaways

Type 1 is the most common type of diabetes in children, but type 2 is increasingly diagnosed in youth.
Warning signs include thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, fatigue, and new bed-wetting; vomiting and heavy breathing may signal DKA.
Insulin, CGMs, carb counting, and activity planning are central to type 1 care.
A written school plan and trained staff help children stay safe at school.
Teens need support as they take on more responsibility; emotional health matters.

Sources

Links to the sources cited above appear in the text. We rely on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), and the American Diabetes Association (ADA).

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