  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
Obesity and Diabetes: How they affect our children
Approximately 177,000 youngsters under the age of 20 have diabetes, according to the National Diabetes Education Program. Diabetes continues to be on the rise and is clearly an ongoing problem. But what makes a person diabetic? When your blood sugar, or glucose as it is commonly called, is too high, you are diagnosed as diabetic. The pancreas controls the amount of glucose in the blood, which makes insulin and helps cells make energy that you need. In a person with diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin causing glucose to build up in the blood, which can in turn damage the body. Parents should be aware of the different types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. In Type 1 diabetes, also referred to as "insulin dependent" or "juvenile diabetes," the pancreas stop making insulin and then a shot is needed to bring the insulin back into the body.
Children are now being commonly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes due to being overweight and inactive. Dr. Ronald Chediak, a pediatrician in Marion, said that when it comes to children, diabetes is "clearly an issue that's out of control." He said obesity is the number one risk factor that people need to deal with. "It's very important to eat in moderation, but I don't think Americans do anything in moderation," he said. According to Chediak, children are getting much fatter now and are out of shape, since they do not follow a balanced diet. The first step is getting parents to get rid of the snack foods that are readily available and let their children pick out an apple instead. "Water is the best thing," Chediak said, while advocating the elimination of soft drinks, such as soda and juice. Watching too much TV or sitting online for hours on end, can also a problem, said Chediak. "There should be strict limits on TV...I prefer my kids to do something more active," he said. Chediak recommended turning off the TV, getting the child moving, getting help from a dietician and figuring out how to keep the diabetes under control. "You want to get them stabilized and get a plan worked out," he said. "Teach them about exercise and make sure their blood sugars come down." "If you can get a kid to exercise, then this can decrease the risks for diabetes," Chediak said. "It's one step at a time and people need to be willing to help." Paula Fleege, RN and assistant clinical coordinator at Shawnee Health Services, said the common symptoms for a child with Type 2 diabetes include excessive increased thirst, increased urination, a craving for sweets and weight gain. A family history of diabetes also increases the risk of children developing diabetes. She advocated changing lifestyle habits. "Instead of giving them a choice of a (Hostess) Ding-Dong or potato chips, give them an apple or pretzels," Fleege said. "We don't advocate putting kids on diets," Fleege said. "We recommend greater physical activity." Calling Type 2 diabetes a "slow progression over time," Fleege said the best way to avoid or prevent it is through weight management. By comparison, Type 1, she said, is the type of diabetes where a person loses weight and can get very sick and die. "It breaks down the protein, which is not good for the body," Fleege said. Since dieticians are the front line people who address this issue, they will recommend lifestyle changes, Fleege added. Peggy Thompson, RN and patient education coordinator at Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, said, "Obesity is a big deal." The key point, she stressed, was making parents more aware of the symptoms. However, African-Americans, American Indian and Hispanics are more at risk for developing diabetes. Thompson said these groups are "genetically predisposed" to the disease. The problem is unhealthy food choices and how frequently Americans consume them. "Fast food is a food of choice: we like it three ways - hot, fast, and super-sized, and that's contributing to obesity," Thompson said. According to her, children have unhealthy choices in food and soda vending machines at school and spend long hours playing video games and sitting in front of computer screens. "We need to make kids more healthy and active," Thompson said. She also identified the lack of physical education across the nation as a problem. "Across the nation, P.E. is one of those classes that is being put to the side and it has detrimental effects," she said. Dr. Neeta B. Kaushal, a pediatrician at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, said children with diabetes are more prone to other health problems. This includes high blood pressure, hypertension, low self-esteem and asthma. She said that parents need to give their children a well-balanced diet. "It doesn't always mean that they need to avoid sweets," Kaushal said. "They need to avoid high-saturated fat foods." Kaushal recommended a 1,500 to 2,000 calorie diet, in addition to exercise. "Our emphasis should be 30 minutes of exercise a day," she said. The consequences of children continuing their present way of life, where they eat highly saturated fatty foods with little or no exercise, can be costly. "Diabetes will be in their life if they don't change their lifestyle," Thompson warned. Other potential health problems could also appear down the road if diabetes isn't controlled. "This can affect the quality of life," Thompson said. She said it's up to parents, teachers and healthcare providers to be aware of this growing problem. "Unless we change, we are going to have one child in three develop diabetes," Thompson said. Thompson recommends cutting out concentrated sugars and eating things in moderation and in portion sizes. "People can prevent diabetes by eating healthy, visiting your healthcare provider, monitoring your lifestyle and controlling the weight," she said. For example people can lose weight and make a big difference in their lives if they walk just 10,000 steps a day, said Thompson. "Studies have shown that people who change their lifestyle have better results," she said. Kids with Type 2 diabetes are often * Overweight * Not physically active * Have a mom or dad or other close relative who has Type 2 diabetes * Are more at risk if they are African American, Hispanic or Latino American, American Indian, Asian American, or a Pacific Islander What are the warning signs? Some kids don't notice any warning signs. They find out they have diabetes when they go to their doctor for a check-up. If you have Type 2 diabetes, you might: * Urinate a lot * Lose weight without any reason * Be very thirsty * Feel tired * Have thick dark skin on the neck or under the arms What you can do to be more active? If you are overweight, check with your doctor before you start a physical activity program. * Set small goals to start. Don't get upset if you can't do a lot or if you get out of breath at first. Keep trying. Any amount of activity will help. Add a little more each week * Get up and play hard for at least 60 minutes almost every day. You don't have to do it all at once - 20 minutes at a time, three times a day is okay, too. There are lots of ways to move around more. Walk, ride a bike, dance, play ball, or shoot hoops. You choose. * Sign up for sports and physical education classes. Ask a grown-up or your teacher about sports or dance programs that you could join * Cut your TV and video game time to less than one hour a day. Be more active in your free time Why do you need to eat healthy foods? * For energy to learn, play, and live * To grow at a healthy rate * To help your blood sugar or glucose levels stay in balance - not too high or too low * To help you lose weight slowly if you need to * To help you avoid other health problems caused by diabetes Putting it all together * Eat meals and snacks at about the same time each day. Try not to skip meals * Be physically active for at least 60 minutes almost every day * Drink more water instead of juice or soda * Learn more about foods and how much you need to eat * Ask your doctor or dietician for help * Take the right amount of insulin or pills at the right times if you need them to help manage your diabetes To learn more: * A registered dietitian or a diabetes educator can help you and your family make food choices that are best for you. * To find a dietitian near you, contact the American Dietetic Association: at 1-800-366-1655 or visit their website at http://www.eatright.org * To find a diabetes educator near you, contact the American Association of Diabetes Educators: at 1-800-832-6874 or visit their website at http://www.diabeteseducator.org Additional Resources: * American Diabetes Association: Call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit http://www.diabetes.org/wizdom. * CDC's Nutrition and Physical Activity Web site for healthy eating tips and the Kids Walk to School Program: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/publicat.htm. * The Dietary Guidelines for Americans that help promote health and reduce disease risk through diet and physical activity: http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/document. * MyPyramid Plan: An interactive, educational guide that teaches you what to eat and how much you can eat: http://www.mypyramid.gov Comments
|
||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
