November is American Diabetes Month, and now is a good time to make sure you’re protecting your kids from this epidemic.
These days, type 2 diabetes is becoming more and more common in kids and teenagers. This may be due in part to increasing obesity in young people. By taking four steps, you can help ensure that your kids will have longer, healthier lives without diabetes:
- Make breakfast. Kids and teens who skip their morning meal may overeat later in the day.
- Offer your kids nutritious options like whole-wheat toast, fruit, and low-fat milk.
- Keep televisions and computers out of your kids’ bedrooms. Teens who sit in front of the television a lot tend to have more body fat.
- Instead of watching TV or playing with the computer, young people could be moving around more and burning off calories. Encourage your kids to play sports after school or visit the gym regularly to help keep a healthy weight.
- And urge your kids to get to bed at a decent hour. A new study found that getting enough sleep may help protect obese teenagers from type 2 diabetes.