“What causes a child to become prediabetic?”
My 14 year old son is prediabetic. What causes a child to become prediabetic?
5 Answers
It is an antibody that is destructive to the islet cells that produce insulin from the pancreas. There is a rarer type of diabetes called MODY (Maturity Onset Diabetes of the youth). He needs close follow-up at that age. And of course depends on what you mean as "prediabetes??"
Is he overweight? Insulin resistance which is usually associated with increased fatty tissue, leads to diabetes. Certain medications can also cause elevated blood sugars as can coexisting medical conditions. Low carbohydrate diet, exercise, and avoidance of sweets (including a lot of juices) may help delay the onset of diabetes. He should also avoid eating after 7pm as this is associated with weight gain and development of diabetes.
Prediabetes occurs when the person needs more than the usual amount of insulin to control the glucose levels. The most common cause of this is excess abdominal fat. This condition needs to be treated as if the increase insulin demand continues the person will be at risk for the pancreas' ability to make insulin and can also lead to heart disease. Decreasing the insulin needs with low-carbohydrate diet and exercise will help treat this condition. Metformin is a medication that can help and is approved for children.
The corner stone of type 1 diabetes is Insulin. The new insulin pumps decreases the need for finger sticks and improve control.
Overweight, bad eating habits and lack of exercise.
