Topic Overview

Diabetes Canada recommends type 2 diabetes screening every 2 years for some children. Children who have not reached puberty and have 3 or more of the risk factors below should be screened. Children who have reached puberty and have 2 or more of the following risk factors:^{footnote 1}

• A body mass index (BMI) in the 95th percentile for his or her age and gender
• A family history of type 2 diabetes
• The child's mother had diabetes while pregnant with the child.
• Hispanic, African, First Nations, Asian, or Pacific Island ancestry
• Signs of not being able to use insulin properly (insulin resistance) or conditions linked with it:
  • A skin problem called acanthosis nigricans
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Fatty liver disease
  • Polycystic ovary syndrome (a hormone problem that interferes with ovulation)
  • Impaired glucose tolerance
• Use of antipsychotic medicine or atypical neuroleptics

If the results of a blood glucose test mean that your child's blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet at the level of diabetes, he or she has (prediabetes). If your child eats a balanced diet and gets regular exercise, he or she may not develop diabetes.

For more information, see the Interactive Tool: What Is Your Child's BMI? and the topic Type 2 Diabetes in Children.