Pre-diabetes in teenagers is growing leaps and bounds! Many times these teenagers are overweight. Today’s culture allows many unhealthy choices of fast food or junk foods that might make a major health difference in developing diabetes in teenagers. In a 2006 article from Diabetes Care, nearly half of the eighth graders were susceptible to getting type 2 diabetes! Pre-diabetes in teenagers can be reversed just by losing weight and exercising.

If you are a parent and involved in grocery shopping, you can help decrease diabetes in teenagers! How? By creating healthier eating choices for your teenagers.
3 ways to help prevent diabetes in teenagers:
- Make sure your teenagers are eating their five servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
- Encourage them to get involved in sports or other activities after school instead of watching TV or playing video games.
- Eat together as a family. Teens who eat with the family also have healthier eating habits.
Families who have a history of type 2 diabetes or family members that have health conditions such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol are at greater risk. If you have overweight middle schoolers or teenagers you should get your child tested for diabetes every few years.
Don’t let pre-diabetes in teenagers worry or scare you. Take a step and steer your teenager back to health!

