Once seen only in adults, type 2 Diabetes is now on the rise in children. Fortunately, a healthy diet and an active lifestyle can help stave it off.

One in three kids born in 2000 will be diagnosed with diabetes in his or her lifetime, according to the Canadian Diabetes Association. The incidence of type 2 diabetes, which is often brought on by unhealthy body weight and inactivity (though genes and other hereditary factors can play a part) is creeping up steadily among Canadian children.

Obesity is the biggest contributor to the disease. In Canada, 30% of kids are obese or overweight, says Dr. Shazhan Amed, a pediatric endocrinologist at B.C Children’s Hospital and clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia. And 95% of kids diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are overweight.

Diabetes is no longer an “adult-onset” disease

Amed says 25 years ago, type 2 was called “adult-onset diabetes,” and cases in kids were virtually unheard of. Now there are at least 113 new cases of type 2 diabetes each year in Canada.

What’s more, unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2, in which the pancreas fails to produce insulin or the body does not process the hormone effectively, can be prevented before it sets in. “Obesity is preventable,” says Amed. “Therefore, type 2 is a preventable condition.”

Your child may be at risk if he or she:

• Consumes an unhealthy diet filled with sugary snacks, processed foods, high-fat foods and sugary drinks, such as juice and pop
• Follows a sedentary, inactive lifestyle. Eighty-eight percent of kids aren’t getting the 60 minutes of activity a day recommended by Health Canada, says Amed.
• Spends too much time in front of a screen — whether it’s TV, computer or video games
• Has a strong genetic link, such as a mother or father with the disease
• Has a skin condition called acathosis nigricans (dark, velvety patches in skin folds) or polycystic ovarian syndrome (which can cause excess weight gain)
• Is part of a high-risk ethnic group, such as the Southeast Asian or native community

You can lead by example

Modeling healthy behavior is essential in teaching kids about proper eating and exercise, says Amed. “Say ‘I’m choosing healthy so you need to choose healthy,’” she adds.

Other tactics include:

1. Don’t talk about dieting. “We don’t want to induce disordered eating in children,” says Amed. Instead, offer cut-up veggies and fruit in lieu of chips, pastries, and sweets. But if you do suspect your child is overweight, take him or her to see a doctor.
2. Skip the juice and pop, which can contain 10 to 12 teaspoons of sugar per serving. Water is the best option to prevent “drinking” calories.
3. Work exercise into the daily routine for your whole family, whether through walks, playing tag in a schoolyard, riding a bike, raking leaves, etc.
4. Limit screen time by treating it as a reward for good health habits.

And what’s the most encouraging part? In addition to type 2 diabetes being preventable, pre-diabetes — where blood glucose is abnormally high but not quite at the diabetic level — can be reversible in some cases. Amed cites a study in which obese kids diagnosed as pre-diabetic lost weight and exercised, reducing their blood sugar levels to normal.

*This article was originally posted on the Sunlife Insurance site.