prevent children from dying

Warning: children with type 2 face adult complications.

“We are getting the first reports of people who were diagnosed as teenagers and have had diabetes for 10 years. They are now in their 20s and are developing kidney failure, requiring amputations, dying and going blind at a higher rate than expected.” , according to Dr. David Ludwig, MD, director of the Optimal Weight for Life Clinic, a program for prediabetic children at Children’s Hospital Boston.

This is a horrible situation and I want to make it clear that even if you are not diabetic, rising and falling blood sugar or insulin levels put you at risk for these serious complications. I have known people with kidney failure and neuropathy who do not have diabetes. A recent article I read states that recent studies have shown a 51% increase in strokes in children between the ages of 15 and 34. These numbers were reported by the American Stroke Association and come from the first large national study of stroke hospitalizations by age. . They compared hospitalizations in 1994 and 1995 with those in 2006 and 2007.

I want to draw your attention to Metabolic Syndrome because this is a pre-diabetic condition that is not always diagnosed unless you are under the care of a cardiologist. So a child or adult may never know they have it. Warning signs or symptoms are an expanding waist size, slightly elevated blood pressure and low levels of good (HDL) cholesterol, increased triglycerides, and high fasting blood sugar levels. Having 3 or more of these findings increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Metabolic syndrome was once a disease of old age, but now it starts at age 15, 20 or 30 and even in tweens. The health consequences can take 15 years to develop, so we are not seeing these early reports of devastating results in young adults.

There is nothing more important in the prevention of Diabetes and its subsequent health complications than a healthy diet.

I think the biggest thing driving this epidemic is the increasing use of microwaveable meals and foods that come in boxes or cans. We need to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean cuts of meat like chicken and fish. Eating healthier will improve your metabolism, which in turn leads to more energy and exercise. The next thing we have to do is supplement. It is a known fact that the soils are getting so polluted that we are nowhere near the amounts of vitamins in our food. Proper nutrition is key to the prevention of illness and chronic disease. According to the American Medical Association, “70% of medical conditions are related to diet”

It is common for people who have diabetes to have low levels of the following vitamins and therefore supplementation may be a good idea.

• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Chromium: “There are several lines of evidence to suggest that higher doses of chromium supplementation may be beneficial,” says William Cefalu, MD, associate professor of medicine and clinical trials at the University of Vermont School of Medicine in Burlington. Diabetes experts say that 600 micrograms a day has been shown to be effective.
• Magnesium: One in three diabetics is low in it. Experts recommend 400 milligrams.
• Alpha lipoic acid (ALA): There are small doses in spinach and meat, but experts say more is needed to help alleviate a common diabetes condition known as neuropathy, which develops when high levels of sugar damage the Nerve endings. Look for a supplement with 600-1200 milligrams. Note: If you are taking medication for diabetes, talk to your doctor before taking supplements, as it may affect the dosage of your medications. It is common to need less medication with a healthier diet.
• Selenium – An antioxidant that may reduce the risk of heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and some types of cancer.

Here are 6 ways to reverse or prevent metabolic syndrome:

1. Shed a few pounds: In a Finnish study, even extremely overweight people who lost just 5% of their total body weight (even if they didn’t exercise) reduced their risk of diabetes by 70%.
2. Eat smarter: choose foods that have a low glycemic index. These foods digest slowly and steadily release sugar into the bloodstream.
3. Add fish and nuts – this will help increase your HDL while lowering your LDL.
4. Walking around the block: Activity helps lower blood sugar and insulin levels by forcing blood sugar into muscle cells.
5. Strength training: Get some resistance bands or hand weights.
6. Quit smoking: Smoking increases insulin resistance and further increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer.

Prediabetes can dump enough glucose into your system to damage your blood vessels and nerves. This sets the stage for horrific complications including blindness, kidney failure, neuropathy, infections and amputations, as well as putting you at serious risk of Fatal heart attacks Y race.

It’s sad to know that by the time you’re diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you’ve already had prediabetes for 10 years or more. Right now, the Center for Disease Control estimates that 41 million Americans have prediabetes.

One third of Americans with diabetes don’t know they have it. The key here is prevention. Whether as a child or an adult, eating healthier reduces the risk of chronic illness and disease. Don’t skip meals. Skipping meals can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. It is always better to eat more often. Smaller servings every 2-3 hours instead of waiting until you’re hungry to get that blood sugar spike and then overeating.

If your child is overweight and you notice the following warning signs of type 2 diabetes, make an appointment with the doctor.

• frequent urination
• Excessive thirst
• extreme hunger
• unexplained weight loss
• increased fatigue
• Irritability
• Blurry vision