Nutritional Management of the overweight child with type 2 diabetes

Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Children

This study investigates risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus in a population of children in public schools, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. A total of 727 children aged 6 to 11 years old from 12 schools were evaluated between March and June 2008. A form addressing socio-demographic data, body mass index, blood pressure, capillary blood glucose and waist circumference was applied. A total of 54.1% of the children were female, 21.7% were overweight, 6.6% were obese, 27% had central obesity, 6.2% showed altered capillary glucose, and 17% high blood pressure. In relation to risk factors, 53.4% presented no risk factors; 24.3% had at least one factor and 18.8% two risk factors. Nurses can intervene in schools through educational health programs encouraging the adoption of healthy habits and identifying children at risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Nutrition Education Program Design For Youth with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The increased prevalence of childhood obesity has led to rising rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in youth. Recommended nutrition strategies for children with T2DM are not well delineated. Adult recommendations for T2DM do not take into account different stages of physical and psychological growth. Nutrition recommendations for children with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) also are not applicable to youth with T2DM, who generally require interventions to promote weight loss. A nutrition education program was developed for youth with T2DM, with attention to current nutrition recommendations and the delivery of nutrition education to obese children, children with T1DM, adults with T2DM, and children with T2DM. Together with program development strategies, a summary of relevant content and mode of delivery is presented for a nutrition education program intended specifically for youth with T2DM at The Hospital for Sick Children.

Type 2 diabetes in youth: epidemiology and current research toward prevention and treatment

Type 2 diabetes mellitus has emerged as a diagnosis among adolescents in the United States, particularly among minority groups and concurrent with the well-documented epidemic of overweight and obesity. Opportunities for prevention of type 2 diabetes and approaches to optimized treatment regimens for adolescents with the disease have drawn largely from studies conducted in adult populations. Recognizing that much work remains to be done, this review summarizes key findings from recent research and highlights recent findings from large, ongoing studies of youth that address the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes in young people, the prevalence of complications among this group, and the current knowledge base that informs opportunities for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes in adolescents.

Interventions for the family with diabetes

This article demonstrates that families can make a difference in diabetes outcomes and nurses can make a difference in how families organize and interact around the person with diabetes. Highlighted are key findings from the research on families and diabetes across different phases of the lifespan. Recommendations for general practice with families that might be adapted by nurses to different settings in which they care for families with diabetes are included.