Cherokee County Texas Health Department - Childhood Obesity and Diabetes

CHEROKEE COUNTY TEXAS HEALTH DEPARTMENT

593 North Main, Rusk, Texas 75785 Telephone 903 683-4688

Childhood Obesity/Diabetes

The incidence of type 1 diabetes (or juvenile diabetes) has increased tenfold in the last century and most dramatically during the past three decades, according to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation striking kids at younger and younger ages. Eduardo J. Sanchez, M.D., Commissioner, Texas Department of State Health Services states, “One-third of all Texas youngsters born after 2000 are projected to develop type 2 diabetes unless we act now. The only reason children get type 2 diabetes is because they are overweight.” Obesity in children has become an epidemic in the United States. Fatty diets, excessive portions, and an overall decline in exercise, coupled with an increase in sedentary activities such as TV watching and video-game playing contribute to the rise in child-hood obesity. While type 2 diabetes used to be known as the ‘adult onset’ form of the disease, some clinics report that it now afflicts children as young as age 6 accounting for nearly half of all new diabetes cases among kids. Here’s an even more frightening figure: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that if current trends continue, about one out of every three babies born today will develop diabetes at some point in his life.

Over time, the effects of diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney damage, blindness, nerve damage, and serious circulation problems. The good news is that while the disease can’t be cured, these complications can be prevented or greatly reduced through close monitoring and proper treatment.

The longer diabetes goes untreated, the more damage it does to the body. Talk to your pediatrician about having your child’s blood sugar tested if you answer yes to one or more of the following questions:

? Is your child overweight? If your child has a body-mass index (BMI) that places him above the

95^th percentile based on his age, sex, weight, and height, he’s at high risk for type 2 diabetes.

Click here to calculate BMI)

? Do family members have diabetes? If a child’s parent, sibling, or grandparent has either type of

diabetes, they are more likely to get to too.

? Did you have diabetes during pregnancy? If you developed a temporary disorder known as

gestational diabetes, both you and your child have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

If you suspect your child has diabetes, the first step is to get the glucose level in their blood tested. Type 2 diabetes treatment typically includes medication which helps to reduce the blood sugar. But it’s crucial to change your child’s lifestyle as well. They must consume fewer calories and increase their daily activity level in order to lose weight and bring their glucose levels down to normal. The first thing to do is eliminate liquid sugar in soft drinks and juice. Click here to see your child’s nutritional needs.)

	TYPE 1 DIABETES	TYPE 2 DIABETES
Cause	The Immune system attacks cells in the pancreas preventing the production of insulin	Obesity, resulting from an unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise makes cells resistant to insulin
Symptoms	Sudden onset; pronounced thirst and hunger; frequent urination (including bedwetting in a previously toilet- taught child); fatigue; nausea and vomiting	Slow onset; increased thirst and hunger; frequent urination; fatigue; elevated blood pressure; dark, velvety patches in the folds of the neck and armpits
Age at onset	As early as infancy, but usually 3 and up.	As early as age 6, but typically 10 and up.
Weight	Normal weight or thin.	Typically overweight or obese
Treatment	Insulin injections or pump; close monitoring of blood sugar and dietary intake.	Dietary changes; increased exercise; blood-sugar-lowering medication.