As an adolescent you already have more than enough body issues to deal with, without the added hassle of having to control your type 2 diabetes in the face of mounting peer group pressure. The hard truth is that some of the cool food and drink that is around is downright bad for you, and you will really have to stand up for yourself if you are going to make progress. You may find it helpful to explain your situation to a few good friends, who will then be able to provide encouragement when you feel down.

The real key to managing type 2 diabetes as an adolescent is to increase exercise, and decrease sweets or carbohydrate portions. It has been established that one of the main culprits in obesity in children and adolescents is the various types of sweetened drinks. Do you know many soft drinks contain the equivalent of six to eight teaspoons of sugar, often in the form of corn syrup which is highly concentrated and fattening?

To be successful you need to adopt a regular management program. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• enjoy lots of fruit and vegetables to help build your energy. Snack on fruit sticks, not chocolate bars. You need protein for health and it also helps with blood sugar control, and water to keep you from dehydrating. If possible eat small regular meals each day rather than three big ones. Try to include some low-GI food in your meals and snacks… low-GI food will keep your blood sugar levels more steady and then you will not lose concentration or have a “fuzzy’ head
• you need to stay away from sugar. Learn how food labels work. References to fructose, glucose, sucrose, any other -ose or corn syrup all mean one thing… the product contains sugar and is not meant for you
• make exercise an enjoyable part of your program… just don’t do anything too hectic without first touching base with your doctor. Grab a friend to do aerobics with, or maybe swimming, walking, running or hiking together… what a great way to have some fun
• invent ways to go outdoors and get mild exercise in the fresh air. Just walking to the shops is a good start, walking the family dog is even better.

Controlling, even reversing type 2 diabetes while you are still an adolescent, definitely does not have to be all gloom and doom and you can find ways to make it fun too.

Type 2 diabetes is not the end of the world… it is true you didn’t ask for it and now you need to make a lot of choices that will affect your health today and in the future. But your health is your responsibility, you just have to adopt a healthy lifestyle… which you and everyone should be doing anyway.

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