National Diabetes Month: Generation XL

November 23, 11:19 AMHealth Care ExaminerDoctor Lissa

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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.