By Alexis Williams, CPNP at Pediatric Associates
Prediabetes is a serious health condition that increases your child’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Having prediabetes means your child has higher blood sugar levels than normal. Usually, there are no symptoms of prediabetes.
With rising levels of childhood obesity, more cases of type 2 diabetes are emerging in children, some as young as 10 years old. Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition where the body struggles to process blood glucose (blood sugar) properly. Symptoms include increased hunger and thirst, fatigue, blurry vision, frequent urination, and darkened areas of skin around the neck, armpits, or groin.
If your child has prediabetes or is at risk, it’s important to take preventive steps to stop it from progressing to type 2 diabetes. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight is one of the most effective ways your family can do to reduce the risk of prediabetes. Here are some other helpful tips to help your child prevent type 2 diabetes.
- Limit your child’s screen time.
- Encourage family exercise and activity. Children should be active for at least 60 minutes per day.
- Help your children make healthy food choices.
- Avoid excessive sugar and processed foods. Aim for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
- Encourage your child to drink water instead of juice or soda.
- Stay up to date with your child’s pediatrician visits. These appointments help monitor your child’s overall health.
Finally, children born to mothers who experienced gestational diabetes during pregnancy are at a greater risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life. Be sure to let your pediatrician know if you were diagnosed with gestational diabetes while pregnant.
