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and teens have at least one parent
with the disease. Most people who
develop type 2 diabetes are overweight and inactive, and this makes
it harder for the cells to respond to
insulin.
Symptoms may be absent at first
or take a long time to become apparent. They include frequent urination
(polyuria), drinking a lot of water
(polydipsia) and feeling tired (often
because the body cannot use glucose
for energy properly).
Teens may ask why they need to
take care of their type 2 diabetes. If
they are vigilant in caring for themselves, they can lower their risk for
other health problems. High blood
glucose levels may harm the body,
causing heart or kidney disease; eye
diseases leading to blindness; circulation problems leading to amputation, usually in the lower extremities;
numbness of toes and feet; and gum
disease or loss of teeth. The good
news about type 2 diabetes is that
with proper care and management,
the teen may lessen or prevent the
occurrence of such health problems,
even into adulthood.
In general, teens with diabetes
type 2 need to:
• eat a healthy balanced diet and
follow a meal plan;
• get regular exercise;
• take prescribed medications;
• monitor blood sugar levels regu-
larly; and
• avoid eating too many carbohydrates.
An evening meal, for example,
should be composed of vegetables
on half the plate and 4 ounces of
meat or fish on a quarter of the plate.
Another quarter of the plate should
have a carbohydrate food, and a side
of a small dish of fruit will complete
the balance plate. This prevents
spikes in glucose levels. Usually after
a little while, the teen adjusts to this
diet.
&
Eat a healthy
balanced diet and
follow a meal plan
About the Author
Jean is a RN with
a MSN from
University of
Cincinnati
and a
freelance
writer.
Her
work has
appeared
in Living
Well 50
Plus, Health &
Wellness, Today’s
Christian in the
Mature Years,
Diabetes Health
and other magazines.
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