Diabetes & Our Children

Diabetes & Our Children…

Extending on from my last blog, where it was identified that the numbers of Type 2 diabetes in children and teenagers are on the rise, Diabetes NZ confirms that although diabetes was seen as an adulthood disease it is now beginning to affect our children.

The increasing numbers of diabetes is that of Type 2, which, as previously identified, can be controlled and possibly prevented, through healthy food choices and regular exercise.  This is an issue that was not heard of years ago, as then the lives of children were generally more active.  It is for this reason the increase in type 2 diabetes, within children as young as 5, has risen.

Type 1 diabetes is still the most predominant form in children at the moment, however professor Sir George Alberti, states that within 10 years Type 2 will be the more dominant form, if we do not begin to do something about it.  Professor Paul Zimmet, extends on this by saying that this does not forecast a positive outcome for the next generation.  Should we as a population not get this disease under control, it could lead to earlier deaths and disabilities and other health complications for our young children.

It’s been suggested that “epidemics of obesity and the low level of physical activity among young people, as well as exposure to diabetes in utero” (Centres for disease control and prevention, 2012, para. 3.) could all be contributing factors to the increase of type 2 diabetes during childhood.   Furthermore, children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes usually have a family history of type 2 diabetes and have insulin resistance. 

These factors, such as being overweight and low physical activity in young children, could potentially suggest that it’s the issue of childhood obesity that is leading to the increase of the type 2 diabetes in children. 

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) “warns that the world is currently facing a twin epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes in young children”.  The IDF are calling out for something to be done urgently in order to gain control over the diseases and decrease the numbers of lives it’s affecting. American statistics are that 1 in 3 Americans born today are predicted to develop type 2 diabetes as a consequence of being overweight and obesity. 

Therefore if obesity is a major contributing factor to the onset of type 2 diabetes what are we, and the government doing to change these statistics as to the increase in numbers? 

Our community and in particular our children then need to be educated about obesity, encouraged and taught how to make healthy choices when it comes to food and physical activity.  The cost of the processed and ‘unhealthy’ foods vs that of the unprocessed ‘healthier’ foods is also of concern.  This together with the busier lifestyles of families, where it’s cheaper and easier to feed families the processed or ‘unhealthy’ foods, I believe is also a contributing factor to the rise in obesity statistics among not only children but the general population.

It’s not solely about being overweight, it’s about the long term health effects this lifestyle choice has on our population and in particular the future generation.

I would like to go on to look at what our government is doing in order to support the awareness of obesity and type 2 diabetes within our community and in particular among our children.  The government’s role is significant in creating awareness of these diseases as the result will be beneficial not only to the individual and their health but also the potential financial burden on society.