Once rarely seen before mid-life, more children and teens are now at risk for type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, which develops when the body doesn’t produce insulin, still accounts for most of the cases in people under age 20.
However, type 2 diabetes, in which the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use insulin properly, is becoming more common among young people, say health experts.
It used to be unthinkable that a 12- year old could show signs of type 2 diabetes.
Not so anymore, according to Dr. Joseph Skelton, assistant professor of pediatrics at Wake Forest School of Medicine.
Now increasingly, obese children over age 10, especially in those families with type 2 diabetes risk factors, are being screened for the disease, according to Dr. Skelton, director of the Brenner FIT (Families in Training) Program at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Winston-Salem, N.C. The prevalence of pre-diabetes or diabetes more than doubled for 12 to 19 year olds during the period between 1999-2000 and 2007-2008, according to government statistics.
The numbers have health professionals looking for innovative and practical ways to reverse the trend.
Family involvement is key, they say.
“You have to make family-level lifestyle changes,” says Kerri Boutelle, Ph.D., associate professor of pediatrics and psychiatry, University of California, San Diego.
Type 2 diabetes is associated with obesity and lack of physical activity, which families can influence. Even a child who is seriously overweight and disinclined to get moving, doesn’t have to face diabetes if his family intervenes, say health experts.
If your child is at risk, losing weight and getting more exercise may prevent or delay diabetes. Lifestyle changes also help children with diabetes manage their disease.
But you can’t expect your child to take these steps by himself.
When families act together, everyone, including the child, benefits, according to the results of various pediatric health programs and studies.
Your child wins because he’s supported, has partners to help him progress and finds role models through your healthier habits.
The rest of your family also benefits, because, as Boutelle says,“It never hurts anyone in the family to eat well.”
You can make a number of improvements including healthier food shopping and cooking, ramping up exercise and detaching from the screen.
Since you’ll be working together as a family team, decide on goals together, Dr. Skelton says.
Surprisingly, considering the dangers of diabetes, experts don’t recommend turning your routine upside down.
“I’m a small changes person,” says Dr. Patricia Cantrell, pediatrician, Kaiser Permanente, San Diego.
She recommends setting small, reachable goals, such as going from one vegetable serving a day to two or three; increasing exercise slightly at first.
Give kids too much at once and they’ll be defeated,” says Dr. Cantrell, who has a special interest in pediatric obesity.
Dr. Skelton’s work also supports a small-steps-at-a-time approach.
“You have too many habits to change, and it’s overwhelming,” he says.
The caveat is that whatever you decide, it should be doable now, not next week, Boutelle says.
As parents, you’re both the gatekeepers and role models for healthy eating habits, says Angela Ginn, registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator and Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics spokesperson.
You decide what foods come into the house, with positive input from your children.
You can say no to soft drinks and cut back on junk food, while introducing more produce, lean protein and whole grains.
Include your children in shopping and menu-planning, if possible.
Let your child select one new vegetable from the supermarket or farmers market each week.Take the next step and prepare the item together.
“Children who help you prepare healthy foods are more likely to eat them.They’re excited about the process,” says Ginn, Baltimore.
Similarly, you’re more likely to win an argument about getting more exercise if you’re not glued to the sofa with one hand on the remote.
Turn off the television and go for a walk together, Boutelle suggests.
Make Sunday afternoons the family bike ride occasion.
If necessary, offer incentives or rewards for more activity.
But remember, if your child isn’t motivated to healthier living, you’ll have to do the motivating, according to Boutelle. It’s a parent’s job.
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