Wisconsin
'It's not someone's fault': Wisconsin doctor pushes back on stigma against kids with diabetes
People with Type 2 diabetes can face stigma and even blame when health care providers see the disease as the result of poor diet instead of a chronic condition.
It’s a misconception that Dr. Elizabeth Mann, pediatric endocrinologist at UW Health, is trying to combat as a growing number of children and teens in Wisconsin are developing the disease.
“It’s not someone’s fault that they have (Type 2 diabetes),” said Mann. “It’s a metabolic difference that happens in their body. Blaming them for it and setting unrealistic expectations of what nutrition and lifestyle therapy will do for them only serves to sort of turn patients off to come in and see us.”
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Over the last two decades in the U.S., the disease has not only become more common in people under age 18, but has also started to affect younger children, including those as young as 6 years old. The National Institutes for Health launched a nationwide study earlier this year to try to understand what is driving the disease in adolescents.
Mann leads UW Health’s Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes program, where she has been treating a growing number of kids in recent years. She said the program used to have around 20 children referred to them each year, but that number is now around 150 kids.
“Many kids with Type 2 diabetes across the state don’t have the ability to drive all the way to Madison,” she said, “So we’re also talking with family medicine providers and pediatricians around the state who are caring for these kids in their clinics, with support from us or on their own.”
Mann said when a person develops Type 2 diabetes at a young age, the disease is more aggressive and is more likely to lead to further complications like heart disease. That also means nutrition and lifestyle changes alone are not as effective at managing the disease as they are in adults.
She said treatment options for the disease has greatly improved thanks to the availability of new medications, referred to GLP-1 drugs, for children.
But these drugs, sold under brands like Ozempic and Wegozy, have become controversial for their use in weight loss. Critics have questioned whether enough is known about the long-term health impacts of using these medications at a young age.
Mann said it’s difficult to get approval for the medication through Wisconsin’s Medicaid insurance program and the medications are only covered for a limited time. She said many private insurance companies will simply refuse to cover the treatment.
“When we can’t use evidence to help our patients access the right medication for them because of insurance limitations, it’s like we’re kind of fighting with our hands behind our backs,” she said. “That’s, I think, how our families are feeling too. There’s an option that could work for them, but it’s only covered for six months.”
As Wisconsin continues to see an increase in kids with Type 2 diabetes, Mann said she believes improving access to these medications is an important part of the state’ public health response. She also hopes to see increased screening and early recognition of the disease to ensure kids are getting the help they need.
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
(WLUK) — The Wisconsin-Notre Dame game at Lambeau Field will be under the lights.
Kickoff will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 6.
The matchup, originally scheduled for Oct. 3, 2020, was rescheduled for 2026 after the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the 2020 football season.
The Badgers took on the Fighting Irish at Soldier Field in Chicago in 2021 as part of the Shamrock Series, the neutral-site non-conference series between the two programs. Notre Dame claimed the first game of the series 41-13.
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Wisconsin last played at Lambeau Field in 2016 and scored a 16-14 win over No. 5 LSU.
Wisconsin
DHS urges Wisconsin ‘sanctuary’ county to keep illegal immigrant accused in elderly sexual assaults jailed
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The Department of Homeland Security is urging “sanctuary politicians in Wisconsin” not to release a Nicaraguan national who was arrested after being accused of sexually assaulting an elderly victim, according to a statement Wednesday.
Julio Cesar Morales-Jarquin, 31, is in local police custody after being charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault of an elderly victim, DHS said.
He was arrested last month after a residential care facility in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, reported to police that an employee may have assaulted vulnerable residents, according to local outlet WKOW.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a detainer request on April 27 asking that Morales-Jarquin remain in custody.
ICE ARRESTS ALLEGED CHILD SEX OFFENDER RELEASED UNDER CONNECTICUT SANCTUARY LAWS
Julio Cesar Morales-Jarquin, 31, is accused of sexually assaulting an elderly victim at a Wisconsin care facility, according to authorities. (Department of Homeland Security)
DHS on Wednesday called on Dane County officials not to release Morales-Jarquin, accusing the county of being a “sanctuary jurisdiction” that refuses to honor ICE detainers.
The agency said the county has previously given ICE as little as 30 minutes to take custody of individuals in its jail.
DHS BLASTS MINNESOTA BOARD FOR UNANIMOUSLY PARDONING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CONVICTED OF 3 ASSAULTS
The Department of Homeland Security logo. (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
According to DHS, Morales-Jarquin entered the United States in 2023 under the Biden administration’s humanitarian parole program for Nicaragua. Although the program was later ended, DHS said he remained in the country unlawfully.
“This illegal alien is charged with two counts of sexual assault of an elderly victim at an assisted living facility,” Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in the DHS statement. “This dirtbag was released into the country by the Biden Administration. DHS is calling on sanctuary politicians in Dane County, Wisconsin to NOT release this criminal from jail back onto the streets to commit more crimes.”
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The Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison, Wisconsin, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature along with the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor. (Jordan McAlister)
“We need Wisconsin sanctuary politicians to cooperate with us to remove criminals from our country,” she added.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Dane County Executive’s Office for comment.
EAA AirVenture 2025 opens with aircraft of every description
EAA AirVenture 2025
USA TODAY readers voted two Wisconsin events among the nation’s best for thrills and excitement – and one got a No. 1 spot.
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh was voted the Best Air Show, ranking first on a list of 10 air shows across the country.
Oshkosh annually becomes a landing pad for around 10,000 aircraft of all shapes and sizes, in what’s considered the world’s biggest fly-in convention. In 2025, EAA had record-breaking attendance, with around 704,000 visitors. This year, the air show will be held July 20-26.
Also highlighted on the most recent USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards, released Wednesday, May 6, was the Sports Car Club of America National Championship Runoffs in Elkhart Lake, which ranked sixth in the Best Motorsports Race category.
The SCCA National Championship Runoffs are an annual competition between top amateur road racers, frequently held at Road America.
The event was held annually at Road America from 2009 to 2013, then returned in 2020 and again for the 2024-2026 competitions. It also rotates to other sites across the United States. In 2027 and 2028, it will be held at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
The SCCA National Championship Runoffs will take place Sept. 28-Oct. 4.
The Best Air Show and Best Motorsports Race lists were among 10 lists in the overarching category “Thrills ‘n’ Wheels & Fishing.” Other lists include Best Boat Show, Best Car Show, Best Fishing Charter and Best Rodeo. The full list of winners can be found online at 10best.usatoday.com/awards.
To determine its lists, USA TODAY 10Best invites a panel of industry experts each week to nominate their favorite points of interest, in categories like food, drink, travel and lifestyle. Editors then vet the nominations and set aside a list of nominees to ask the public to vote on for a period of four weeks.
Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli.
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