The Recent Rise of Teen Diabetes

In the last decade, teenagers with diabetes rose from 9% to 23%, which means nearly 1 in 4 teenagers. Specific causes are unknown, since prehypertension, high LDL, and obesity stayed around the same levels in spite of increased diabetes diagnoses. There is study to explore whether early exposure to cow’s milk or certain food could be a factor in type 1 diabetes. Also, the immune system in babies may be developed differently now that there is less exposure to viruses and bacteria. The cause of type 2 diabetes in children and teens is less confusing: over 90% of youth with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Similarly, sedentary lifestyle contributes to diabetes. Other risk factors include high blood pressure, history of gestational diabetes, or family history.

How to Prevent Diabetes

The easiest way to prevent diabetes is to prevent childhood obesity and control teen obesity. This is key to diabetes management, because half of newly diagnosed overweight or obese teens had problems controlling their blood sugar, and 20% of them had severe complications. When blood sugar isn’t under control, diabetics run the risk of blindness, nerve damage, kidney failure, amputation of limbs, heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle changes can have a huge impact, and the chance of heart disease can be reduced by half if risk factors like obesity are managed. Type 2 diabetes is directly related to blood sugar, so using medicine like metformin and daily shots of insulin is helpful in managing blood sugar levels. Other methods of preventing diabetes is to consume less fat and decrease caloric intake, exercise for 20 minutes daily, and take action towards weight loss if obesity is a factor.