Children’s health: Pediatric diabetes is on the rise. What can parents do?
November is Juvenile Diabetes Awareness Month, which offers a valuable time to reflect on this chronic, autoimmune condition playing an increasing role in the lives of many young people in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, over 350,000 Americans younger than 20 have diabetes, with a majority of them having type 1. The agency also found that young people were 2% to 5% more likely to be diagnosed with a form of diabetes in 2018 compared to 2002.
Plainly put, diabetes occurs in people whose bodies struggle to produce insulin, a hormone which helps glucose enter cells and comes in two iterations. Type 1 occurs predominantly because of genetic predispositions. Type 2 can also occur because of genetics; however, it can also present in people due to lifestyle decisions like obesity and inactivity.
People with diabetes can feel an increased thirst and urination, fatigue, blurred vision and slow-healing wounds, and it can lead to other complications like heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, nerve damage, and vision issues. Studies have indicated that obesity is a large contributor to diseases in children like diabetes, and the tandem occurrence of both obesity and diabetes gives rise to a number of other complications as children move into early adulthood.
“Young children today should strive towards a healthier life. In general, they should aim towards eating nutrient-dense foods, maintaining increased physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior,” said Dr. Moina Uddin, pediatric endocrinologist at Ascension Saint Alexius. “Lifestyle habits such as these are major modifiable risk factors for type 2 diabetes in youth. Addressing these factors can help delay, or even prevent, the onset of type 2 diabetes in children.”
As a parent or guardian, you can take steps to best prevent diabetes in your child. Encourage a healthy diet and physical activity, and make sure you are a good role model for those behaviors. Do your best to focus on providing whole foods and limiting sugary and processed foods and drinks, while aiming for at least an hour of physical activity a day.
Of course, taking all the right steps does not always ensure the success of prevention. Routine check ups with your child’s pediatrician can further help you understand your child’s symptoms and risk factors. If your child receives a diabetes diagnosis, know that there is help available. A certified diabetes educator can provide nutrition counseling, information about insulin production and help develop an individualized plan to help your child manage diabetes and live a healthy lifestyle.
• Children's health is a continuing series. This column was provided by Ascension Illinois.