According to the National Diabetes Education Program, the percentage of newly diagnosed children with diabetes who are classified as having type 2 has climbed from less than 5 percent before 1994 to 30 to 50 percent in subsequent years.

Not coincidentally, the number of overweight children overall is increasing at an alarming rate — 19 percent of American children between ages six and 11 are overweight, as are 17 percent of 12- to 19-year-olds. Aside from type 2 diabetes, childhood obesity can lead to adult medical issues like atherosclerosis, hypertension, respiratory infections, and sleep apnea.

Weight Control and Exercise

If your child is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and has issues with weight, diet and exercise should be your immediate defense plan. Your pediatrician can formulate a medically sound weight-loss program tailored to your child's specific needs. A registered dietitian can also be of great help in creating a balanced meal plan for your child.

Every child, no matter what his level of athleticism, should be encouraged to get out and get moving. If he's interested, sign him up for some team sports and/or outdoor activities. If he isn't into athletics, activities such as bike and scooter riding, in-line skating, hiking, swimming, or dancing are good, noncompetitive ways to get fit. The important thing is to find something that interests him so it becomes something he looks forward to rather than dreads.

Keep food in perspective and treat it as a fuel, not as entertainment, comfort, love, or a reward. Using treats to make a child feel better instead of communicating about her problems turns food into an inappropriate substitute for affection, and can sabotage self-esteem and self-sufficiency.

Diabetes is a family disease, whether it is type 1 or type 2. Kids can't be expected to diet and exercise if their parents and siblings are living a fast-food, couch-potato lifestyle. Plan meals and group activities that everyone can enjoy together.