HEALTHY KIDS · OCTOBER 2018
KIDS AND DIABETES:
IS YOUR CHILD AT RISK?
When discussing
diabetes, most
people don’t
think about
children. Though
type 1 diabetes
usually develops
during childhood
and is primarily
caused by genetic
factors, type 2
diabetes, while
linked with several
genetic factors,
is associated with
adulthood, obesity
and poor eating
habits over many
years. However,
today more and
more children in
the United States
are developing
type 2 diabetes.
A RISING
RISK FOR
U.S. KIDS
Type 2 diabetes
is preventable
and it should be
particularly easy
to prevent in
kids. However,
according to the
NCSL, 30% of U.S.
children exercise
fewer than three
times per week
and 75% of U.S.
teens don’t eat
the recommended
servings of fruits
and vegetables
each day.
For years obesity has been on the rise in the United States. As a
country and a culture, we are addicted to oversized portions of fast
food and processed foods with tons of empty calories and added sugars.
And this epidemic doesn’t onl y affect adults.
According to statistics gathered by the
National Conference of State Legislatures
(NCSL), over the past four decades,
childhood obesity rates in the United
States have almost tripled and an estimated
13 million children and adolescents are
considered obese (having a BMI in the 95th
percentile or above).
TYPE 1 VS. TYPE 2
Diabetes is an autoimmune disease. In the
case of type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune
system attacks and destroys the cells in the
pancreas that produce insulin. Once those
cells are destroyed, they cannot be re-grown
or replaced, and patients have to take insulin
for the rest of their lives. Though proper
diet and exercise can help maintain health,
diabetes is largely genetic and must be
treated with insulin injections.
Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is caused
by insulin insensitivity. While these patients
may be genetically predisposed toward
developing type 2 diabetes, it can usually
be prevented by maintaining healthy body
weight and eating a balanced diet. For those
who develop type 2 diabetes, they may
see major improvements in blood sugar
levels after losing weight and changing their
lifestyles, but they will most likely always
have a tendency toward high and/or unstable
blood sugar levels and should maintain a
close relationship with their doctors and
keep a close eye on their diets and exercise
regimens.
9 HEALTHY MAGAZINE
With numbers like
these, it’s not hard
to see why more and more kids in the U.S.
are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. So,
is your child at risk? Take a moment to think
about how often your child plays outside. Do
you have your child enrolled in any sports or
other activities that provide regular exercise?
How often do you physically play with your
children?
Kids follow our examples. If we sit on the
couch every night eating sweets, our kids
are going to learn those habits and mimic
them. If, on the other hand, we are active
and healthy, our children are more likely to
be active and healthy as well. If you live in
the United States, statistics show that your
child is very likely at risk for developing type
2 diabetes, but you can combat that risk by
promoting a healthy lifestyle.
By Dr. Ritu Goel