Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and adolescents; about 151,000 people below the age of 20 years have diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, once known as adult-onset diabetes, is increasing among children. (Read more.) And, Type 1 diabetes has been a medical mystery for some time. The majority of people who develop Type 1 diabetes have no history of diabetes in their family. Researchers are working to discover what environmental factors, when combined with a genetic predisposition, might begin the chain of events that leads to diabetes. No one has found conclusive results yet.

Learn more about diabetes using the following resources:

• National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP)
• National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• American Association of Diabetes Educators
• American Diabetes Association
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
• Everyday Health's Diabetes Hub

Learn about potential environmental links and ways to reduce your child’s risk here.