What Does Everyone Do To Prevent Type 2 in Their Kids?

[Team Diabetes]

We all know that Type 2 diabetes is increasing in kids due to childhood obesity. Before, Type 2 diabetes was unheard of in kids. Kids either had Type 1, or "atypical diabetes" a different rare genetic form which we now know as MODY.

Now, more an more kids are getting Type 2, which is almost always preventable in kids.

So how does everyone here motivate their kids to eat right and get outside to play? Do you tell them what will happen if they don't, or do you make a healthy lifestyle a family (fun) activity?

[jimmys devoted]

since I went on meds for my diabetes and in control we noticed our daughter is slowly showing peaks. So what we did was begin a routne of A1c at home and testing at least twice a day for a week at a time to check trends.
She is more hypoglycemic than hyper but neuropathy is slowly creeping in.

since we all are on the diabetic diet theer is really no need to change diet.

[gsnarayanan]

My family is free from diabetics but my daughter in law's father and mother are daibets. I feel that my daughter in law and her daughter should go for for type 2 daibetic test! Can you advice me on this? I shall be thank ful!:confused:

[jimmys devoted]

I come from a long line of diabetics and there is a very old idea, that if it runs in a family its a good idea to be tested. theer are of course a few newer tests than when I was little. But really IO prefer the older tests for being sure. She can have asimple finger prick on fasting, she can have an A1C done, she can go through a Fasting GTT. Any are good to give an indication if teh body is going in that direction.

I ahve diabeets on my fathers sidee, almost every member on both paternal and fraternal had it.. and since I taek more fater that side,,, bingo.

It doent hurt to be tested and it can save prolonged complications in teh very long run.
But she may be afraid, So dont push it. Make healthy food choices when she is around so she can get accustomed to it and if possible have an open talk with her family.

[Simplyme]

I am actually concerned about this with my eldest daughter who is only 12. She is rather obese for her age and it does not seem to matter what steps I take to control what she is eating. I can promote and fix her recommended meals but she will sneak into stuff and eat at quantities where it doesn't matter how healthy it is. It is stressful because I am trying to do everything I know to do to try and protect her from this.

[faithib]

I watch my son and infrequently test him to see if he has an out of range blood sugar. He never does.
I do encourage him to exercise regularly and eat healthy.
We've studied the food pyramid and I'm going to make it a regular part of our family life to look at it and make choices using it.
My son has watched me test myself and take care of my type 1 diabetes and asked questions since he could talk.
When he was 3 he made a pretend pump and wore it attached to his belt for weeks.
He still, every once in a while will ask, am I going to get diabetes too.
I tell him we don't know.
My mom ended up having type 2 the last few years before she died at age 80.
So, you never know.

[skatss]

The best thing to do is try to make sure your kids are getting healthy habits so that they will have a healthy all over life. Just fearing diabetes isn't the best thing to do.

If you start them as babies, making sure that they do not get a taste for sweet things like cookies or ice cream, when they are even too young to talk, is a good first step for a healthy life. When I see parents feeding their tiny tots ice-cream and then beaming with pride as the kids' eyes light up with desire as they grab for more, always makes me shiver with disgust. And when moms bring out a cookie to quiet the kids when they get too noisy or annoying, that also makes me shiver with fear for the kids' health. They are being taught that cookies are yummy and should be eaten for the joy they bring. It is just a terrible thing to do to kids.

Always have vegetables and fruit in the house ready for them to munch on. Anytime they want a snack give them veggies and do it from their first snack. Make that first snack a healthy one, not a cookie. Let them teeth on a hard whole wheat frozen bagel, not zwieback cookies that are made with partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed oil.

Also don't buy them video games. Get them balls and jump ropes, skates and good running shoes. Try and get outside with them when you can, and make it a habit for the family to go on outings each weekend to do nature walks and go for swims on the beach. Teach them to move instead of teaching them that the TV is their friend.

Diabetes is just one disease you don't want them to get. Go for positive reinforcements of good healthy habits so their lives aren't ruined by many illnesses

[Simplyme]

I agree skatss, I did my best with my kids my eldest though was shown love by her daddio through McDonalds and ice cream etc when she was growing up and now I hope she doesn't have to suffer anymore than she has for it.

[faithib]

That was a good point skatss.
My son had only tasted a sugar sweet once in his life until he was 3. He did have a little birthday cake on his 1st birthday and he threw that up.
Unfortunately after 3 my mom gave him some candy and he has been a hound for sweets ever since.
I do try to limit what he can have but I can really see if you ever open that door it is almost impossible to close it back.

I've often wondered though, if I'd let him have a little all along would he have gone so nuts over sweets?

[jhellie_baby]

Because of the link between obesity and type 2 diabetes, you can do a great deal to reduce your chance of developing the disease by slimming down if you are overweight. This is especially true if diabetes runs in your family.

[skatss]

I've often wondered though, if I'd let him have a little all along would he have gone so nuts over sweets?

A man I know was brought up in a very strict way by his health conscious mother. She made sure that he and his sister never had unhealthy snacks. Well, one day when he was in school a little friend introduced him to a piece of cake with frosting. He was so overtaken by its taste that he found his sister and shared it with her. Then he and his sister would go and visit friends from school and actually eat the sugar from the sugar bowls that were on the table!

Once that kids get a taste of sugar, its impossible to stop them hungering for it.

You did a great job in keeping your child totally clean until the age of three. There's no telling how much good that did his growing body. You did a great thing!

[manojjonam10]

Kids with type 2 background has high probability of acquiring diabetes. Hence it is necessary to have good diet and frequent check up. I am afraid that my kids will get it so I am always cautious.

[ramesh68]

Hi there,


In children diabetes occurs due to obesity and hereditary. Some children are obese by birth and they are ought to suffer. We can prevent the onset of diabetes in children through proper habits. They must be groomed properly to get rid of the problems. They should play well and inculcate discipline. I don't think there should be any prescribed diet is required for them, and they can eat whatever they want. There are no restrictions. Children with diabetes must need the guidance and supervision of child care specialist.


Thanks