Children and teens with diabetes

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Diabetes Focus eMag

Diabetes presents unique issues for children and teens with the condition. Simple things, like going

Can you prevent diabetes?

Scientists believe that lifestyle and type 2 diabetes are closely linked. This means that lifestyle is one area which individuals can focus on to help prevent or delay the onset of the disease.

A healthy diet, weight control, exercise, reduction in stress and no smoking are important preventative steps

Are you at risk?

Risk factors for developing diabetes include the following:

Being aged 35 or over
Being overweight (especially if you carry most of your weight around your middle.
Being a member of a high-risk group (in South Africa if you are of Indian descent you are at particular risk).
Having a family history of diabetes
Having given birth to a baby that weighed over 4kg at birth, or have had gestational diabetes during pregnancy
Having high cholesterol or other fats in the blood
Having high blood pressure or heart disease

Early diagnosis of diabetes is extremely important if complications are to be prevented or delayed. If you are over 35 and have any of the risk factors highlighted in the “Who is at Risk” section, you should be tested every year.

A simple finger-prick test at your local pharmacy or clinic can diagnose the strong likelihood that you may have diabetes within a minute.