The number of people living with Type 2 Diabetes in the United States continues to grow, including increasing numbers of women and children living with the disease. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that of the 25.6 million American adults with diabetes, 12.6 million are women.
Additionally, providers are seeing more and more instances of Type 2 Diabetes in children each year, a disease normally found in adults over the age of 40. This rise in cases of Type 2 diabetes among children is due in large part to higher levels of childhood obesity, lower levels of physical activity and poor eating habits.
“Diabetes occurs when blood glucose levels in the body are above normal levels,” said Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, Chief Medical Officer at CompleteCare Health Network. “The pancreas makes insulin, which helps glucose get into our cells to be used as energy. The amount of insulin the pancreas needs to produce goes up as people gain weight. When you have diabetes your pancreas cannot make enough insulin to keep up with your body’s needs, and sugar levels start to rise.”
Diabetes is currently the 7th leading cause of death in the United States and causes many serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure and foot infections that can lead to amputations.
A study recently published in the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics showed that the activity levels of young children are directly linked to the activity levels of their mothers, something many doctors and nurses have known for a long time. “Kids learn from what they see their families do, more than from what we tell them about health,” says Dr. Bettigole. “Many women tell me they don’t have time to exercise or follow a diabetic diet because they also have to shop and cook for the family, but it’s important that we all realize that our kids have the same genetic makeup that we do. If we have diabetes, they are at risk. Staying active and starting to eat a healthy diet that’s low in sugars and simple starches as kids can help prevent diabetes later in life.”
The pressure of adding the task of keeping the family healthy and disease free to the long list of things moms do on a daily basis can be daunting for many women. But it is important to remember that starting small and adding gradual changes to daily eating and exercise habits may be the real key to making life long differences in the overall health of the family.
If you have questions about Type 2 Diabetes or diabetes prevention, be sure to call your provider.
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