
Children and Type 2 Diabetes: Whats New?
Children and Type 2 Diabetes: Whats New?
No one likes hearing that they cant have something, especially the foods they love. Children with Type 2 diabetes have an especially complicated relationship with food. Type 2 diabetes is becoming more common; more than 80% of all children and teens with Type 2 diabetes are overweight, and about 40% are clinically obese. Because weight is a contributing factor to Type 2 diabetes, it is important to look for new ways to help children control their weight and to understand which new medical treatments are available. While children have little control over the foods in their environment, some new practices can help them choose healthier foods and eat mindfully. Some new devices and medicines also may potentially help control children and teens glucose levels. It is important to remember that it will most likely be a combination of interventions that will help your child learn to live with the disease and become healthier over time.
One practice that is gaining popularity is called mindful eating or eating with intention. A recent study has showed that when parents restrict food to promote healthier behaviors, it will work in the short-term. However, in the long-term, restrictive eating has proved to be harmful. Children who have restricted diets are at risk for increased eating when they are not hungry, not learning how to self-regulate and trust their bodys signals, thus causing weight gain. The approach to mindful eating is to help the child create a dialog of kindness with his or her own body. Instead of focusing on hunger as a n
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