Preventing Diabetes in Children Without Medication

Ten minutes or less of physical activity a day is all it takes to delay the onset of type 2 diabetes and slow its progression in children, according to a new study.

The study, led by Dr. Melanie Henderson, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Endocrinologist and Epidemiologist at the University of Montreal Saint-Justine (UdeM), offers a glimmer of hope by identifying how physical activity and sedentary lifestyles affect children’s health. Key indicators of diabetes.

A total of 630 Quebec children with a family history of obesity were followed up for seven years in three cycles: ages 8-10, 10-12, and 15-17.

The experts used several tests to measure key indicators of diabetes, including insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and blood sugar levels. Physical activity and total sitting time were also measured using an accelerometer, and recreational screen time was assessed using a self-administered questionnaire.

“Just 10 minutes of moderate-to-intense physical activity a day reduces the risk associated with developing ADHD,” says Soren Arnoy-Leblanc, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the University of Montreal and co-author of the study. A study that was published in November in The Lancet Child Adolescent Health, Type 2 Diabetes in Children at Risk.

“Reducing sitting time by an hour a day provides similar benefits,” said Dr. Henderson. Because the time you spend in front of a screen, whether it’s TV, video games or social media, is especially harmful, but it’s easier to change compared to sitting time, such as transportation.

“Not all sedentary habits have the same effect on the cardiovascular system and metabolism,” she added.

Lifestyle changes can be difficult. The body has mechanisms to maintain maximum weight, which makes it very difficult to lose weight. That’s why it’s so important to act as early as possible with children and adolescents who have a family history of obesity, the researchers say.

“There is an urgent need to develop and implement an obesity prevention policy that encourages physical activity and reduces sedentary lifestyles to prevent diabetes among vulnerable populations,” said Dr. Henderson.

Source: Medical Express