Kids and Type 2 Diabetes

Over the course of the last couple of years, our family has been on a crash course to learn about diabetes in children. The reason for this is that one of our grandchildren was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of six. In children, type 1 diabetes is believed to be caused by an autoimmune reaction. Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes typically comes on later in life, and being overweight and inactive are two of the most common causes. In other words, type 2 diabetes can often be prevented. I recently saw a research study which indicates that in the coming decades, a growing number of today’s children and teens will develop type 2 diabetes due to poor nutrition and a lack of physical activity in childhood. We know that kids are eating poorly and are not as active as children in the past. Parents, you are the frontline of prevention. And, as Christian parents we are called to steward our children’s bodies, protecting them from harm, and providing for their well-being.