Can juvenile diabetes be prevented?

Here are some tips to keep juvenile diabetes at bay

Diabetes is a silent killer disease that is becoming more prevalent among children in recent years. Once detected, it will change your life completely as diabetes cannot be cured and your children will require special care and treatment for the remainder of their lives. This can be extremely distressing and frustrating for kids to deal with, but it can be even harder to cope with as a parent. To avoid the anguish of having to watch your kids suffer and to spare them the trauma of a life with diabetes, it's important that you take steps to prevent the development of diabetes in your kids. Here are some facts about diabetes and some useful tips to protect your child from the disease:

There are two types of diabetes that may affect your child. Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented and there is no cure for it. In this type of diabetes, pancreatic cells fail to produce insulin, which means that blood glucose cannot be utilised by the body and so begins to build up in blood. The actual cause for type 1 diabetes has not been confirmed, but physicians have found some genetic mutations within the pancreatic cells associated with this disease. Moreover, type 1 diabetes can also develop in genetically susceptible individuals due to certain viral infections that may trigger the onset of the condition. The only treatment procedure is to replenish insulin through injections, which is a lifelong requirement. There is no way to prevent this disease, but scientists have found that breast feeding helps to reduce the risks, but not enough evidence is available to confirm the same. However, regular blood tests and consultation with physicians can help to detect the disease in its early , thereby restricting the severity of the condition and reducing the risk of complications.

Type 2 diabetes arises most commonly because of lifestyle and food habits, though genetic risks do play a role too. In this type of diabetes, the pancreatic cells can make insulin but the body fails to utilise it. Hence, this type of diabetes can be easily prevented with proper awareness and care. Usually, children who are obese, have less physical activity like running, playing, etc., lead a sedentary life style and over-eat are more likely to suffer from such disease. Proper life style modifications with adequate physical activity may help to prevent the onset of diabetes in your child.

Here are some tips for the parents to keep juvenile diabetes at bay

1. Include plenty of vegetables and fruits in daily meals.
2. Give your child a balanced diet (carbohydrate, fat, protein, vitamins and minerals).
3. Give your child healthy snacks in school and in between the meals.
4. Avoid oily, fried and spicy food.
5. Avoid processed food.
6. Spend time with your child by playing outdoor games.
7. Encourage your child to cultivate an interest in and participate in sporting events.
8. Teach your child about healthy foods and explain the health hazards of junk food intake.
9. Try to provide some yoga lessons.

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You may also like to read:

• Obese kids likelier to suffer from diabetes and high BP

• Beware obesity could give your kid diabetes and heart disease

• Type two diabetes on the rise among kids: Experts

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Reference:

Wherrett DK, Daneman D. Prevention of type 1 diabetes. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2011 Oct; 58(5):1257-70.