The June, 2012, issue of Pediatrics has an article stating that the incidence of diabetes and prediabetes in U.S. adolescents increased from 9% in 1999 to 23% in 2008. The finding is based on the NHANES survey of 12 to 19-year-olds, which included a single fasting blood sugar determination.
The investigators offered no solution to the problem. I’m no pediatrician, but my guess is that the following measures would help prevent adolescent type 2 diabetes and prediabetes:
- more exercise
- eat less sugar and refined starches
- keep body weight in the healthy range
I’m sure many of the adolescent type 2 diabetics and prediabetics are overweight or obese. A 2010 study out of Colorado found a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet safe and effective for adolescents. Fortunately, the decades-long ascent of the adolescent obesity rate in the U.S. seems to have peaked for now.
PS: I scanned the article quickly and don’t remember if the researchers broke down the diabetes cases by type 1 and type 2. I’d be shocked if type 1 diabetes rose this much over the last decade.
Diabetic Mediterranean Diet 
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