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Data from 1998 concerning both parents working show: "both spouses were employed at least part time in 51 percent of married couples with children, compared with 33 percent in 1976" (Lewin). These results were taken six years ago, recent studies show the percent is on the rise. "Studies now are showing that in 84 percent of families with two parents, both work. 45 percent of children under the age of one year are in childcare, while the numbers rise to 62 percent of all children six years old and younger"(Ehrich). With these staggering results, coincidently, type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents is developing more often.
Some researchers suggest that this rise in Type 2 diabetes in youth could be because of puberty lowering sensitivity to insulin. "In a way, teenagers metabolism becomes rebellious, too"(Goran, and Gower). Scientists think that because today children go through puberty at an earlier stage, they are more likely to increase their high body fat. It is believed that this might be why children's beta cells are having a hard time recovering after puberty. .
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Children who are from an ethnic background such as African-American, Hispanic, and have a strong family history with this disease, are especially at high risk for the disease. The burden of diabetes is much greater for minority populations than the white population. For example, 10.8 percent of non-Hispanic blacks, 10.6 percent of Mexican Americans, and 9.0 percent of American Indians have diabetes, compared with 6.2 percent of whites.("Diabetes Disparities"). .
Although some researchers even wonder if diabetes is a cause for obesity. Especially since the rates of obesity in the U.S. among children and adolescents were respectively 4.2 to 4.6 percent in 1963-1970, 4.0 and 6.1 percent in 1971-1974, 6.5 and 5.0 percent in 1976-1980, 11.3 and 10.5 percent in 1988-1994, and 15.3 and 15.5 percent in 1999-2000, an alarming rate of increase (Bloomgarden).