Did you know that according to the CDC, as of 2012, 8.3 percent of the people living within the United States have diabetes? That’s close to 25.8 million people. And while only roughly about 215,000 of those individuals are under the age of 20, diabetes brings about enough serious challenges and consequences that we should be doing all that we can to prevent our children from being diagnosed with it.
So, what are some specific precautions that can be taken within your home as it relates to your kids? We have enclosed five proactive tips below:
Eat right. By “eat right” we mean “eat healthy”. The five basic food groups that we all learned about as children and your kids are probably hearing about now should definitely be a part of your son or daughter’s daily routine. The more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, non-fat dairy and lean meats that they consume, the better their immune systems will be.
Exercise. There used to be a time when it didn’t have to really be mentioned that a child should get plenty of exercise. That’s because in between recess, physical education class and playing outside with their friends after school and on the weekends, they were getting plenty of it. Now, thanks to things like cell phones and Facebook, plus budget cuts in school, parents have to make a concerted effort to make sure that their kids are exercising. In fighting diabetes, it is a must to sign your children up for Little League, intramural sports or at least make sure they are off of their phones and getting some fresh air outdoors a few days per week.
See the doctor. As it is with many illnesses, oftentimes an early diagnosis can make life so much easier. Children are not exempt from this fact. Therefore, make sure that you take them for their annual check-ups and if there is a history of diabetes within the family, that you discuss having a glucose test taken and perhaps getting a glucose meter for your home.
Know the risk factors. Another way to stay on top of diabetes is by understanding the risk factors and symptoms for having it. Diabetes.org has a “Diabetes Basics” section that offers an online risk test that you can take. As far as symptoms, they include frequent urination, unusual levels of thirst and extreme bouts of hunger, unexplainable weight loss and extreme irritability and fatigue. If you notice any of these symptoms with your kids, even if it is in between their annual physicals, definitely make sure to set an appointment with their physician.
Limit the junk food. One surefire way to throw of your body’s blood sugar level is by inundating it with tons of junk food because lots of desserts and candy or carbs (which turn into sugar while being digested) are filled with sugar (and usually processed sugar at that). So, while there’s nothing wrong with having a few sweets from time to time, try and keep the pantries limited when it comes to chips and cookies and opt for cooking rather than the fast food drive-thrus. Junk food is a breeding ground for diabetes and for the sake of your kids, you want to keep them as far from that disease as possible.