Diabetes currently affects nearly 200 million people worldwide Type 2 diabetes in children: Exemplifies the growing problem of Diabetes Foundation. …
Segment 285 for Family Album
TOPIC: Growing Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in Children
Written by Mary Walch and Jennifer Hillan
Reviewed by Linda Bobroff
Welcome to another page in the Family Album and the snapshots of our
changing families Im Donna Davis
Do you have type 2 diabetes? Know someone who does? Most people with
type 2 diabetes are adults; the disease used to be called adult-onset
diabetes But the rate of type 2 diabetes in children is on the rise and
it is now being diagnosed in children as young as five
According to the International Diabetes Federation, 1 in 3 Americans
born today is predicted to develop type 2 diabetes as a consequence of
obesity Diabetes currently affects nearly 200 million people worldwide
and IDF figures predict that this will increase to more than 330 million by
2025
Type 2 diabetes is caused by both genetics and lifestyle factors such
as an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise Having type 2 diabetes increases
the risk for complications such as heart disease, blindness, and kidney and
nerve damage Type 2 diabetes in children may lead to accelerated kidney
and heart disease in early adulthood
Prevention is key to
confronting this problem More importance must be
placed on teaching our children healthy lifestyle habits Since being
overweight increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, it is important to make
healthy food choices, be physically active every day, and stay at a healthy
weight Help your child reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by modeling
these healthy habits yourself The whole family can benefit from a
nutritious diet and regular physical activity Why not get started tonight
by taking a walk together after dinner?
For more information, visit the American Diabetes Association at
wwwdiabetesorg
Listening, learning and living together, its the science of life
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its Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences and of WUFT-FM If
youd like to learn more, please visit our website at
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Sources
Fagot-Campagna, Anne and Giuseppina Imperatore Type 2 diabetes in
children: Exemplifies the growing problem of chronic diseases 2001
Retrieved 25 February 2004
http://bmjbmjjournalscom/cgi/content/full/322/7283/377
International Diabetes Foundation Diabetes and Obesity
Epidemic in
Children: International Call to Action 2004 Retrieved 25 February
2005 http://wwwidforg/home/indexcfm?node1216
Source:aatchb.org
