Generation XL. That's the new term some are giving to children in the U.S. under 12. Why? Because they are the largest, most obese, sedentary generation we have ever produced. How bad is it? Well, the government is running ads reminding children to go outside and play an hour a day. Who thought they'd need to be reminded to do that?
It wasn't that long ago that health care providers and policy makers thought that children couldn't get Type 2 diabetes. Now, they are a growing population for which the long term consequences are not known. Even children as young as 2 years old have it.
Why are these children so out of shape? Television and video games, high fat/high sugar foods and lack of exercise are the main culprits. Parents and school officials get some of the blame as well. But as a society, we not only allow this, we encourage it.
What can you do at home besides get them off the couch and take away the ice cream? Check their necks. Whats that? Well, there is a skin condiiton that is an important sign indicating the risk of developing diabetes.
This skin condition signals that the body is resisting insulin. As a result, the pancreas produces more insulin than needed. What's it look like? A dirty neck. Or dirty knuckles, armpits, back or groin. One that won't wash off.
What can you do if you know someone who has this? Go to a doctor and get the right tests to determine the status of glucose in the body. From there the doctor might recommend nutritional counseling and exercise so your body will become more sensitive to the insulin it produces. Eventually, these markers wil begin to fade.
In the meantime, make it your goal to check everyone in your family for a dirty areas that soap and water won't wash off. If you see something that won't wash off, get them in for a check up. Consequences of high insulin levels over time lead to diabetes, obesity, heart problems, high blood pressure, increased cholesterol an triglycerides and in females something called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.
Everyone check out ok? Then get them moving, throw out all the sugary snacks and limit the TV and video playing. The term, Generation XL, like a dirty neck, is not going unless we all work at it.
Comments
The "dirty" comments are uncalled for. I am amazed at how ignorant you are. Acanthosis already makes many who have it feel self concious. By perpetuating the idea of the "dirt" that won't wash off you are adding insult to this injury. Try to write objecitvely and we'll all be better off. As someone with PCOS I am tired of seeing articles like this. There are real people struggling with real health issues and we don't need your condescention.
Actually, discussing the disorder with a dirty neck is not ignorant. It's a way of reaching an audience who might not be aware of the problem and give them simple ways of identifying someone who might need evaluation. The American Diabetes Association has speakers who discuss it in these terms at professional conferences, so I don't think I get all the blame. Still, my audience is not informed about the condition and needs a simple way to understand a complex important marker for elevated insulin levels. I'm sorry you took offense and hope you're getting the treatment you need. But I'm going to use a method that works in the general population to get my point across.
I appreciated your article, Doctor Lissa. I'm the Denver Diabetes Examiner and I have type 1 so that is where most of my expertise is, but it is interesting to learn something new about the disease, whether it applies to my version or the more common. Keep it up! I took no offense.
Oh shut up, "Amazed". If it looks like your neck is dirty, it looks like your neck is dirty. If you're fat, you're fat. If you're old, you're old. If you're bald, you're bald. I am SO freaking sick to death of people trying to find pretty ways to describe ANYTHING that makes someone not look like an airbrushed Abercrombie model. This writer was clearly doing a service to the community. Now i know if my kid has a dirty neck and it won't wash off . . . maybe I should get her checked for diabetes.
Dr. Lissa, thank you for continuing to educate us, even if some of the people who read your work are too ignorant to deal with the facts you provide. You do a great service to the non-health-speaking classes!
Dr. Lissa, thank you very much for the interesting information about the "dirty neck" syndrome. I have had this since I was in high school, but it wasn't until after I graduated, they found that I was type 2 diabetic and then my mom just happened to stumble across an article that was called "dirty neck syndrome". It made so much sense at that point! I think more people should be aware of this as they can stop it before they end up on injections every day!
DR.LISSA, AT FIRST I DIDNT KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS BUT NOW I KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT THANK YOU BUT IM CONCERN NOW CUZ MOSTLY SOME OF MY FAMILY HAS THIS ALL AROUND THERE NECKS AND I ONLY HAVE A LITLE ON THE BACK OF MY NECK DOES THIS MEAN IM EITHER GETTING DIABETES OR I HAVE IT ALREADY.I HAVE A FRIEND THAT HAS IT ALL AROUND HER NECK SHE IS NOT EMBARRASSED TO SHOW HER NECK BUT I AM I FEEL WIERD AND SOME GUY IN OUR CLASS MADE FUN OF HER ONE TIME I FELT BAD CUZ I FELT THAT HE WAS TELLING ME BE HE WAS ACTUALLY TELLIN HER SO DO I JUST TELL MY MOM TO TAKE ME TO THE DOCTORS ???
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