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HOW TO LOWER THE RISK FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES IN CHILDREN

Type 2 diabetes is a serious disease. It used to be that only adults got type 2 diabetes. Now some kids and teens who are inactive and weigh too much are also getting type 2 diabetes. You cannot catch diabetes from others.

Diabetes means your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. In all of us, the food we eat turns into glucose and our bodies use it for energy. When you have diabetes, your body cannot use glucose as normal, and blood glucose rises. Young people with diabetes may need to take pills or insulin to help the body use the glucose in the blood for energy. If blood glucose stays too high for too long, it can damage many parts of the body such as the heart, eyes, kidney, and nerves.

Here are some warning signs for diabetes: You might urinate a lot more than usual, be thirsty more often than usual, feel tired, and have thick dark skin on the neck or under the arms. Not everyone has these warning signs. You only find out you have diabetes when you go to the doctor for a check-up.

What puts children at risk for type 2 diabetes is if they have a mom, dad, sibling or other close relatives who has type 2 diabetes.

·         If they weigh too much and…

·         If they do not get enough physical activity

·         There are lots of ways to be active: You can go for a walk, ride a bike, dance, play tug of war, take P.E or gym in school, or play fitness video game. Choose what you like best, and then just do it!

·         Start slowly. Do not get upset if you cannot do a lot-just keep moving! Add more activity each week.

·         Aim for 60 minutes every day: You do not have to do it all at once-20 minutes at a time, three times a day is fine.

·         Use a step count for fun. Use it to keep track of the number of steps you take in a day then try to increase this number every day.

Stay at a healthy weight.

·         Be more physically active.

·         Eat smaller portions of healthy foods.

·         Limit time with TV, computer and video.

·         Being physically active can help you:

Build muscle and use up body fat

·         Grow strong bones

·         Feel good and sleep better

·         Focus in school

·         Control your weight

                                                                     By...Belinda Yeboah