Can Diabetes Be Prevented in Children?
As one of the most common diseases in the modern world, diabetes affects millions of people per year. There are actually two different types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. While Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, there are many ways to prevent your child from contracting Type 2 diabetes. But, can diabetes be prevented in children specifically?
Regardless of what stage of diabetes you or your child find yourself in, Dr. Gura is a top diabetes specialist in Los Angeles. are specialized in diabetes care. Keep reading for more information about both types of diabetes and how you can prevent diabetes in your child?
About Diabetes
While Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are different, they are both classified by the way they use and react to glucose. Glucose is one of our body’s main sources of energy, and it is a type of sugar found in the blood.
For glucose to function properly, it needs the help of insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas. Both types of diabetes affect the way the body produces or uses this insulin. In Type 1 diabetes, the body cannot create insulin. On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes causes the body to have an improper response to the insulin, essentially rendering it useless.
In both types of diabetes, external insulin is needed to keep the body regulated. Doctors typically need to keep a close watch on diabetes patients throughout their entire lives.
Type 1 Vs. Type 2 Diabetes
Two different types of diabetes can be diagnosed. One can be prevented, and one can’t.
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a genetic disease, and unfortunately, it is impossible to prevent it. In fact, it is impossible even to tell who will contract this disease in life and who won’t. There is a strong possibility that it is connected to genetics.
While this disease isn’t contagious, it will stick with someone for life.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks its own pancreas, destroying the insulin-creating cells. Glucose will have a problem getting into those cells, meaning glucose can’t get processed properly. This is what leads to levels of high blood sugar and other harmful symptoms.
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes can be prevented – in most cases. Some of the most common symptoms of Type 2 diabetes include weight gain and skin rashes. Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed when the pancreas fails to properly recognize insulin. Certain risk factors can increase a child’s chance of contracting Type 2 diabetes. For example, weight gain and sedentary behaviors are some of the biggest risks for children. In fact, KidsHealth reports that obesity is a huge risk for children, bigger than it was in the past. This is because a lot of children sit for longer periods.
Preventing Type 2 Diabetes
What’s the best way to ensure that your child remains healthy and does not put themselves at risk of contracting this life-threatening disease? Promoting good health and lots of physical activity is something that can really make a difference.
You may also want to limit the amount of time they spend sitting in one place. There’s nothing wrong with staying home and watching TV or playing video games for a while, but if your child does this and nothing else, they could be at a bigger risk of getting a disease like this.
It’s also important to encourage a healthy diet. A little piece of candy here or there never hurt anybody, but you might need to severely cut down on the amount of junk food your child eats. Foods that are high in nutrients and low in fats are the best kinds of foods for preventing Type 2 diabetes.
In short? Encourage physical activity and a healthy diet, and these new behaviors can go a long way in protecting your child against diabetes. Stay vigilant and diabetes can be prevented in children.
Prevent Diabetes in Your Child Today!
Diabetes is a terrible disease that can be prevented in some cases. While Type 1 diabetes is something that you may be born with, Type 2 diabetes typically comes from unhealthy habits and a sedentary lifestyle. You can prevent diabetes in your child by encouraging healthy behaviors and lots of physical exercises.
Get in touch with Dr. Gura, a top internist in Los Angeles, if you are interested in learning more about diabetes and diabetes prevention.