Diabesity: Prevention Is Possible

By: Dr. Linda Carson

We recently posted a blog by Lindsay Dawson who shared a very personal account of learning that she had a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes when she was young. That blog made me reflect on my own experience with diabetes. My sister was diagnosed later in life with Type 2 diabetes, and since then she has lost much of her vision and one of her legs to this dreaded disease. In the past 15 years she has managed her diabetes with lifestyle changes and much healthier eating.

Type 2 diabetes used to be called adult onset diabetes but in recent years, the age of onset has moved younger and younger. Children as young as six have been shown to have elevated blood pressure and cholesterol. Childhood obesity has steadily increased over the past three decades. An interesting book written by Francine Kauffman, a pediatric endocrinologist, describes the consequences of our lifestyles of convenience. She says that we have designed comfy environments and foods (non-foods) that are going to do us in.

Dr. Kauffman also warns that diabetes and obesity are so linked together that soon physicians will be diagnosing them as a single syndrome known as diabesity. In fact, Diabesity is the name of her book. It is written for parents to help them understand ways to prevent both obesity and diabetes in children. The CDC has published trend maps that show how the prevalence of both obesity and diabetes has revealed a similar progression in recent years.

http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/center/slides.html

Experts agree that many cases of Type 2 diabetes and obesity can be prevented or minimized with healthy nutrition and physical activity. To be sure that your family is getting the preventive benefits from your food, try to eat more leafy green veggies, beans, and fruits. The fiber, vitamins, and minerals in plant-based food are what we should have everyday to nourish body and mind. Eating natural, unprocessed foods that are nutrient dense rather than calorie dense, will contribute to healthy metabolism and blood sugar levels.

For many, a daily diet of fresh fruits and veggies will also result in healthy weight loss! Wondering how to know if a food is nutrient dense? Think of it this way, if it is grown as a plant, try to eat more of that. If it is manufactured or processed in a “plant”, try to eat less of that. The processing takes away nutrition. And when selecting or preparing food for your family, remember the caution from Dr. Kauffman: We’ve designed environments and diets out of convenience that one day soon will do us in. Everyone is busy and convenience is wonderful, but lets all try to make healthier choices for our children and families.

So feed them well and move them more. Listen to a song by the same title and let us know what strategies you do to promote plant flavors, plant protein, and plant fiber?

About the Author: Linda Carson, Ed. D, is the founder and CEO of Choosy Kids, LLC, and the Ware Distinguished Professor Emerita at West Virginia University. An award winning, nationally recognized expert, Dr. Carson has devoted her career to promoting healthy preferences for young children and the adults who make decisions on their behalf. Click here to learn more about Linda.

Gardening for Good

By: Kerry McKenzie

Research has shown that kids who are involved in growing and making their own food are more likely to try different foods and eat healthier.  And digging in the dirt is only half of the fun when it comes to gardening!  Getting dirty is so good for you!  Recent research has proven that there are health benefits to digging in the dirt.  There is a particular strain of bacterium in the soil that has been found to trigger the release of a chemical in your body called serotonin, which is called the “happy chemical” because it elevates your mood and decreases anxiety.  And on top of that, this little bacterium has been found to keep your brain healthy and possibly even treat cancer and other diseases. Contact with soil, through gardening or other means, is beneficial!  Now there's a great reason to get outside and garden for good and get your kids involved too!

You don’t need to have a green thumb to get started or even any plant knowledge. Kids can learn as they GROW! All you really need is a yard to dig in or a space to put a few containers. You can even reuse an old sandbox (remove the bottom) and turn it into a raised bed garden or keep the container that last night’s rotisserie chicken dinner was in and put some dirt and seeds in there.   

When planting in pots or an old sandbox, purchasing potting soil in bags is a good choice.  Keep in mind that plants need sunlight and water to grow, so plan your garden in a sunny spot that will catch rain or is easy for you to hand water with a watering can or hose.  If you want to plant your garden in the ground, remove all of the grass and rocks before you start. Tilling or breaking up the soil will help when you are putting the plants in the ground.

Involve your children in deciding which fruits or vegetables to plant as this may gain extra attention when gardening. Make sure to try some new fruits and veggies, like Okra!  I like to plant seedlings so the kids can watch them grow from the very beginning. You can buy seedlings at any home and garden store.  Gently place the seedlings in little holes, cover with a thin layer of dirt and drizzle with some water.

It's important to plant your garden at the right time, and the key is knowing when your area will see its last spring frost. You may lose your warm weather crops if you put them in the ground too soon. Search the Old Farmer’s Almanac freeze chart in your area! 

The next part is amazing!  Water, fertilize with old leaves, pick out the weeds and watch your plants grow. Before you know it you will have fruit and vegetables to pick and eat!  It’s that simple! And it’s fun!

What kind of fruits and veggies do your children like to watch grow? Share your growing tips with us in the comment section!

About the Author: Kerry McKenzie, B.A., M.S., has been working in education for more than 13 years. She is a Certified Health Coach, a 500 level (E-RYT500) yoga teacher and specializes in early childhood motor development. She has a passion for working with expecting moms, babies, toddlers and preschool age children and their caregivers at Greenville Health Systems pediatric clinic, child care centers and in the community. Click here to learn more about Kerry.

Did You Know: Only 5% of People with this Disease Have it in this Form

By: Lindsay Dawson, Choosy Kids Social Media Account Manager

I will never forget the afternoon of December 6, 2001. Little 11-year-old me had been sick for nearly a month. I was constantly thirsty; my complexion was muted; I had no energy; and despite my consistent hunger, I’d lost about 15 pounds in two weeks. My mom had been so concerned that I wasn’t eating, or that something very serious was happening to me. And on December 6th, she picked me up from school, took me to my doctor, and stood by my side as my life changed forever.

That afternoon, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes – a chronic autoimmune disease in which the child’s pancreas stops producing insulin, either due to hereditary disposition or a virus that initiates the attack on the pancreas. Only 5% of people with diabetes have this form, Type 1 – formally known as juvenile diabetes. Without a functioning pancreas, Insulin cannot be produced. Insulin is one of the 8 hormones produced in the body that regulates blood sugar. This disease is not life threatening if treated properly, though there is currently no cure. The day I was diagnosed, I was sent to the hospital for a week of training and education.

I never ate poorly as a child, thanks to my mom’s love for home-cooking and her studies of being a nutritionist in college, I learned that I could never eat the same way. The sweet tooth I inherited from my dad had to be controlled (I loved popsicles and ice cream!), birthday parties and school lunches would be very different. Not only was food affected by my diagnosis; I’d no long be able to exercise the same way, travel, attend school, or even sleep as I had for the previous 11 years. Everything had to change, and I had to adapt to my new lifestyle very quickly.

As I mentioned, this form of Diabetes is either hereditary or caused by a bad virus, like Chicken Pox. I’m still not sure which caused mine: Type 2 runs in my family, and I had a viral rash for about 6 months earlier in the year I was diagnosed. Whatever the case, Diabetes treatment is very complex, particularly for a Type 1. You have to keep your blood sugar within a normal range, doing so by controlling your food intake and treating with the proper amount of insulin. Other factors such as stress/anxiety, exercise, illness, quality of food, and even the environment can affect your levels as well.

Until a few years ago, I was taking at least 4 insulin injections a day, testing my blood sugar 6 to 8 times a day, and monitoring my carbohydrate intake at every meal. My senior year of college, I decided to try the “insulin pump”, a mechanical pancreas, so to speak, that uses ratios, sensitivity levels, and trends specific to my body to deliver continuous doses of insulin. I also use my pump to give myself “boluses”, or injections, on top of my continuous stream of insulin. I wear the pump 24/7; it is always attached to me, except for the few moments when I change the site everything three days. It makes managing my Diabetes much easier! And it’s pink, which is a very good thing, in my opinion!

Healthy habits truly begin at a young age, and I feel very fortunate to have been diagnosed with a disease that taught me such lessons. At 11 years old, I learned the value of feeding my body in a healthy way – I used to snack on Clementine’s constantly - exercising and staying active, and doing the things I loved. Though Diabetes can be difficult and unpredictable, I have always felt that my circumstances could have been far worse. The benefits I have gained from my juvenile diagnosis enabled me to develop my independence and establish a strong sense of responsibility at a critically impressionable age. Consequently, I have spent the last several years cultivating my love and passion for healthy (and adventurous!) cooking, running, lifting weights, swimming, and biking, and embracing my Diabetes for all that it is.

I am now 24 and I recently celebrated my 13th anniversary in December 2014; I’ve lived with Diabetes longer than I lived without it, which is a pretty wild thought to me. This disease has and will continue to be part of every moment of my life. However, this fact does not leave me discouraged. Diabetes, despite the difficulties and frustrations, has taught me so much, and has instilled a remarkably strong sense of healthy living.

With childhood obesity trends as they are, our culture is seeing more and more young children develop Type 2 Diabetes, the adult counterpart that is more influenced by lifestyle choices than biology. Seeing these trends has inspired me to communicate my story of health and my journey with Diabetes to others. I hope to inspire more movement and excitement about nutrition – ideas I try to exude every day, and something I think Choosy would be proud of!

Since March is National Nutrition Month, now is a great time to commit to healthy eating – for yourself and for your family. Do you know someone effected by Diabetes? How can you help them, or help yourself, to get more active and find more joy nutritious cooking?

About the Author: Lindsay Dawson earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies and a minor in vocal performance from West Virginia University in 2012. In May of 2014, she graduated from WVU with a Master’s of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications. She has enjoyed working for several non-profits, and in addition to her position with Choosy Kids, Lindsay is currently employed as the Outreach Coordinator for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Morgantown, WV. Her ultimate career ambitions inspire her to combine her love of the arts with her passion for marketing, leadership, and civic engagement.