The Heart Beat

A current article at Web MD discusses the increased risk of heart disease among kids with diabetes; 1 in 5 of children with any form of the disease was found to have 2 or more additional risk factors for early heart disease.

Diabetes itself is a risk factor for heart disease, and type 2 diabetes is strongly linked with obesity. For children with type 2 diabetes the heart disease numbers were higher; nearly 9 out of 10 children with this form of the disease had two or more additional risk factors for heart disease. These children are also more likely to have serious kidney disease and be at risk for early death, compared to those who are diagnosed with diabetes as adults.

Recent studies present some of the strongest evidence yet that being young does not protect one from the chronic diseases commonly seen in people with diabetes, according to American Diabetes Association (ADA) president Robert Rizza, MD, talking with WebMD; “clearly this is not a more benign disease in children.” He also notes, “we are getting a better picture of the great tragedy of diabetes in children and adolescents. They are exposed to the full spectrum of diabetes complications, but [these complications] are occurring in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, instead of later in life.”

If you are an adult with type 2 diabetes, consider the impact that your disease, and lifestyle choices, may be making on the children in your life. What kind of example are you setting by continuing to eat too much food? By not losing weight? Not exercising? Today IS the first day of the rest of your life. Find help to set a better example, before your children, and your grandchildren are following you down the path of diabetes and heart disease. It’s a family affair.

Laurie

As I see it, every day you do one of two things: build health or produce disease in yourself.
Adelle Davis

Related Topics: WebMD Video: Diabetes Discipline, Dieting Tips for Diabetics

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