Type 2 Diabetes - Childhood Obesity Is Leading to Diabetes in Adolescents!

The increase in Type 2 diabetes mirrors the increased incidence of obesity which has reached epidemic proportions around the world. At this time there are 45 million obese adults in the United States alone: that is around 30% of the adult population. And these people are all at an elevated risk for Type 2 diabetes.

Once owned by the elderly alone, Type 2 diabetes has become a disease of middle age and even young adulthood. And now this type of diabetes is affecting children as well.

Both being overweight or obese are known to be important predisposing factors to Type 2 diabetes; researchers in the Department of Exercise Science, California Lutheran University, Los Angeles in the United States looked at changes that are likely to explain the relationship. Results of their study were published in the Journal of Pediatrics, September 2010.

Two hundred and thirty-five overweight adolescents were enrolled in the study and examined yearly for 5 years:

insulin sensitivityinsulin release by the pancreas, andbeta cell functioning (beta cells make insulin in the pancreas)

were followed. Pubertal development was followed by use of the Tanner scale: a simple method of examining adolescents according to certain changes their bodies undergo on the way to adulthood.

In Boys: it was found insulin sensitivity went down in early puberty and improved by late puberty. At first, more insulin was secreted to make up for the insensitivity, but as puberty progressed insulin secretion went down.

In Girls: results showed insulin sensitivity also decreased in the early stages of puberty, and continued to decrease throughout adolescence. At first there was an increase in insulin secretion, but the reaction decreased in girls as it had in boys.

It was concluded that beta cells were losing their ability to function. The researchers went on to say that beta cell deterioration would increase the risk of the participants' developing Type 2 diabetes.

The Reason We are Seeing Type 2 in Children: The epidemic in Type 2 diabetes and its diagnosis in adolescents and children have followed the epidemic of overweight and obesity seen in developed countries... obesity is escalating in our youth.

A Call to Action: Parents need to take action before diabetes and all its complications can develop. Parents share with schools the enormous opportunity and responsibility to shape our children. Childhood is when habits develop that will be with them for a lifetime. This is the best time to teach them about healthy eating and physical activity.

Childhood Diabetes is Not Wholly Understood

It is hard to accept knowing that your child has diabetes. As parent, right from the onset of the disease, you will hardly believe what your child's life will be if your child acquires diabetes specifically Type 1 diabetes mellitus. This is the most usual type of diabetes that 95% of children under 16 years of age acquires. In type 1 diabetes also termed as an immune response disease is a condition in which the bodies immune system aggresses its own tissues or organs. What actually destroyed in the body are the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

The commonality and development of child diabetes varies across the world. In fact, a significant increase in the number of cases for childhood diabetes has risen over the last 30 years. It might probably be an adjacent case due to obesity which is also an increasing trend in our society. What really causes childhood diabetes? . Most certain thereof are the lifestyle choices, environmental factors or even genetic endowment. Even research scientists and doctors still continue to find ways and medications to completely treat this disease.

Parents of children with diabetes has to know everything including the symptoms, treatment, diet and activities of which a child can do while having diabetes. Backup support to child with diabetes is crucial in this case from their families, hospital team or social services team. A considerable amount of patience, effort and understanding the difference facets of diabetes is also very beneficial to your child with diabetes.

Children typically have symptoms of tummy pains, headaches and behavior problems. Weariness, weight loss, thirstiness and frequent urination are also some indications of diabetes that usually occurs over a long period of days. Treating child diabetes has to be managed effectively in specialized nature. This means that children with diabetes are not advised to stay at home and just let them have their medications alone with their guardians or parents.

They are advised to have their insulin treatment in the hospital with the care of a doctor specialized in diabetes disease. In this case, your child needs an individual insulin routine which will be planned and managed by the team in the hospital. The avoidance of hypos or low blood glucose attacks and a good glucose control is also very crucial in monitoring the severity of diabetes in your child. The reason it has to be monitored is due to minimize the number of complications that your child has to suffer in the future. The longer the child lives with diabetes, the more your child feels the pain.

A good recommendation on the rules of thumb for a child with diabetes is taking a healthy balanced diet that is high in fiber and carbohydrates from a trained dietician. Parents and dietician should determine how much your child should eat. So, if you child has a diabetes better keep your eyes on her/him so as not to let your child suffer most in the future.