What can we do about a disturbing rise in type 2 diabetes in kids? Elizabeth Tracey reports

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More kids than ever before are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, research by pediatric endocrinology expert Sheela Magge at Johns Hopkins and colleagues has shown. This 77% rise during the pandemic may result in severe consequences for these children, and Magge says intervention must start at the very beginning.

Magge: The number one thing is prevention. From a very young age we need to institute more supports for families, and more education about healthy eating. To this day I still have some families that come in and are surprised when I say your child does not need to drink juice. Juice is not healthy. Drink low fat milk and water, that’s all you need. And then support and infrastructure is really needed, good childcare, all of those things to prevent and encourage people to eat well and incorporate physical activity into their daily lives.  :32

Magge notes that such a comprehensive plan is definitely a family affair and will result in benefits for everyone, and it must be supported by policy and legislative activity. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.