Make It A Family Affair

Type 2 diabetes was almost nonexistent among children three decades ago, affecting primarily adults 45 and older. Nowadays there is a worrying increase in cases among young people. What happened between then and now?

Understand the insulin connection 

Every time we eat, our bodies get an influx of sugar which, with insulin produced by the pancreas, enters our cells as energy. This process keeps blood sugar levels balanced after meals or treats.

Sometimes cells stop responding to insulin, or the pancreas does not produce enough. That’s when a high carbohydrate intake can be problematic, says Rachel McBryan, registered dietitian on Vancouver Island, BC.

“Being overweight and eating lots of carbs can start a cascade of increased insulin production, but, eventually, the pancreas can’t keep up, which leads to insulin resistance,” says McBryan. This can affect the cardiovascular system and the kidneys, and it can also cause vision problems.

Know the risk factors 

When it comes to chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, genetics plays a role. Other risk factors, however, have to do with lifestyle.

“Type 2 diabetes is linked to abdominal obesity (‘belly fat’), and the number of children with excess belly fat has increased in recent years,” says McBryan.

Teenagers have an added challenge. Due to a physiological boost in growth hormone, they can experience insulin resistance during their puberty years.

Also, many kids and teens are stuck behind screens for long stretches of time each day, which is another risk factor. “Physical activity improves the effectiveness of the insulin the body produces,” says McBryan.

Teach the F word (fibre, that is) 

A recent study concluded that people who ate whole grains and whole grain foods (such as oatmeal, added bran, whole grain breakfast cereal, dark bread, and brown rice) had a significantly lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

If you guessed that fibre is behind the magic, you’d be right, but there are also phytochemicals, minerals, and vitamins. They help increase insulin sensitivity, decrease body mass, and reduce inflammation.

It’s never too early to start. “Parents are crucial in setting up healthy boundaries around food and eating, and they must model healthy eating behaviour,” says McBryan.

Make it a family affair 

Explore healthy eating as a family. “With children, I recommend at each meal, having one food that you know they like and also offering a new food,” advises McBryan.

Here are some tips to transform your family’s health:

• Leave the peels on whenever possible, but wash or scrub before eating.
• Think in colours—the more on the plate, the more phytochemicals and fibre.
• Replace sugary morning cereal with a create-your-own array of fruit, nuts, and seeds over bowls of cooked oatmeal.
• Keep meat (especially fried) to a minimum. Plant-based diets contain antioxidants and fibre, which can lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by reducing inflammation.

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