Diabetes in Children: Linked to Diet
Katie Cummings, Jaleesa Garcia
Erica LeMaster, Emily Simonson
Diabetes is a severe metabolic disorder often characterized by excessive urination as well as extreme thirst. When diagnosed with diabetes, the body may not make the insulin necessary to move glucose into muscle, fat and other tissues, or the body may reject the insulin being produced.
Although this disease was once only suggested to individuals over the age of 50, diabetes is the most rapidly growing diseases in teens and adolescents. Although there are many kinds of diabetes, the most common types include: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and Gestational diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in youth and adolescents affecting an astonishing 215,000 people under the age of 20. One of the leading causes of Diabetes in teens is referred to as “Diabesity,” which addresses the close link between the development of Type 2 diabetes and obesity. In the Nutrition Now book, it was mentioned, 60% of individuals diagnosed with diabetes are considered obese and 30% and overweight.
The lack of nutrition education amongst Baby Boomers is now negatively affecting our generation because of the passing of information.
Throughout the discussion of the articles presented in the page, we attempt to show that children in Chicago are also at risk for Type 2 diabetes. Although there are changes being made, the problem still exists and we hope awareness will help prevent the spread of this disease.
BOTTOM LINE:
Type 2 Diabetes takes years to develop, therefore small incremental changes in one’s diet now, greatly decreases the likelihood of becoming affected by Type 2 diabetes.
The chart below illustrates an increasing trend in the rate of childhood type 2 diabetes between 1988 and 1995. It's pretty clear that rates of this disease are increasing at an alarming rate and were not always destined to do so. This suggests a problem in society. Children are now more and more suseptible due to the food product culture we live in today.
