How to Prevent Diabetes in Kids

Diabetes is becoming one of the most common chronic diseases among schoolage children. In the U.S., statistics indicate that 1 in 3 people born in the year 2000 or later may develop type 2 diabetes, a type of diabetes that was once commonly found only in adults. This figure will hold true as long as the trend of overweight children continues.
Even though type 2 diabetes is partly genetic, it can still be prevented or delayed by having a healthy diet and regular exercise. As kids become less active and eat less healthy food, they gain excess weight and become obese. Consequently, they also become more susceptible to the disease. Here are some ways to help your kids prevent getting diabetes in their lifetime.

Instructions

• 1

  Teach your kids to eat and drink healthy. Give them natural or freshly squeezed fruit juices and water instead of powdered drinks and soda. Teach them to read food labels (nutrition facts) so that they can avoid foods that are high in fat.

• 2

  Serve tasty and appetizing meals that your kids love, but make sure that they are low in salt and saturated fats. To do this, you can try healthier cooking methods that use less fat and oil. These include broiling, steaming, baking, grilling, boiling and roasting.

• 3

  Plan their meals. Include at least one portion of vegetables and a serving of fruits in every meal. Fruits are the healthier alternative to candies; they contain a lot of vitamins and natural sugars that break down easily in the body.

• 4

  Limit your visits to fast food restaurants. There simply is too much salt, grease, fat and preservatives in the food they serve. It is better to eat home-cooked meals because you can control how much salt or oil to put in your food.

• 5

  Help your kids become more active. Physical activity for at least 60 minutes every day can help your kids burn more calories. You can encourage this by asking them to do simple chores like sweeping the floor, raking the leaves or hanging clothes to dry.

• 6

  Take your children to regular medical checkups. If your child is overweight, consult your doctor on how to help your child lose weight.

• 7

  Lead by example. Children need to see that their parents are also doing what they are teaching.