Newstricky| Diabetes is a medical condition in which the body fails to process blood sugar. It is getting a more common disease among adults and children. Along with medicines and treatment plans, diabetes can be easily managed with a healthy lifestyle. However, it may be relatively easier to manage lifestyle in case an adult gets diagnosed with diabetes but it gets difficult to manage the lifestyle of a minor when they get diagnosed with diabetes. So what should the parents do when their kid gets diagnosed with diabetes. Here we discuss the plan in detail.
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How Does Type 2 Diabetes Happen?
The amount of glucose in the bloodstream of a person is called blood glucose level. Glucose is the power source of blood cells that travel in the whole body. When the body stops producing enough insulin hormone which helps the glucose to absorb into the cells, the body stops responding well and the glucose stops getting carried on by the cells giving way to rising glucose levels and many health problems.
Tips for A Healthy Lifestyle
When children are diagnosed with diabetes the goal of treatment is to control the physical symptoms of diabetes and try to pave the way to the more normal development of the patients. For this purpose, medicines are administered to reduce the symptoms of diabetes. For the convenience of Type 2 diabetes patients, a discount on Farxiga helps gain access to this medicine which effectively allows the excessive blood sugar level to drop in the normal range.
Other than the medical treatment, parents can help their child to:
- follow a diabetes-friendly meal plan and eat a well-balanced diet
- Be physically active
- take medicines strictly as prescribed
- monitor blood sugar levels and report to the doctor regularly
Eating a Nutritious Diet
Even though diabetes may not happen due to the family history of a person, unhealthy eating habits may lead to a diagnosis. Kids these days are prone to eat unhealthy, over-processed junk food and consuming too much junk food may lead to obesity and more health problems related to weight gain such as type-2 diabetes. Once diagnosed, children with type-2 diabetes may need more energy to manage their weight and live a healthy lifestyle. They may need more calories to grow without gaining weight. To do this, parents must introduce healthy and nutritious food in their meal plan and make them get regular exercise. Enroll the kids in exercise groups or a gym class so they feel obligated to exercise more.
Make sure to include three main types of nutrients in the meal plan, which are carbohydrates, proteins and fats. These nutrients provide the necessary calories to stay active. Food with protein and fats do not affect the blood sugar levels much and foods containing carbohydrates usually give rise to blood glucose levels. So make sure to include carbs in limited quantity and more proteins and healthy fats.
Getting Regular Exercise
Being physically active is an important aspect of a type-2 diabetes patient’s lifestyle. Exercise improves the positive response to insulin and helps control blood sugar at moderate levels. By getting regular exercise, the patient reduces body fat and burns more calories. Also, it is very healthy for children to be physically active as their bodies are still developing and they need exercise to be healthier.
Exercise may also help children with type-2 diabetes to:
- Keep blood sugar levels regular
- Keep cholesterol levels in the normal range
- Make the heart, lungs, liver and other body parts in good shape
- Perform activities that normally kids can do
Taking Medicines as Prescribed
Following a diet and medical plan prescribed by the doctor is necessary to live a healthier lifestyle. Doctors may recommend a course of treatment to regulate the blood glucose levels and additional medicines might be needed to reduce the physical symptoms of diabetes such as weight gain, weak eyesight, low appetite, etc. Kids with type-2 diabetes need insulin to function better. The acids in the stomach break down insulin when taken in form of pills so kids might need to take the insulin in the form of an injection or a pump. But a regular schedule needs to be followed to take insulin and it is the responsibility of the parents to make sure the child gets insulin regularly.
