Diabetes is a chronic disease which is marked by high levels of sugar in the blood.
It is therefore essential to encourage healthy eating and exercise as part of your children's life from a young age.
Children today are constantly bombarded with procecssed foods and sugary treats.
Recent research has shown the astonishing increase in the number of overweight children and those who have early-onset Type 2 diabetes due to poor diets .
To minimise your children's risks of contracting diabetes it is essential to instill good eating and exercise habits when they are young.
You can teach your children to read labels and keep an eye out for important nutrients, like fibre (which keeps you full for longer) and vitamins .
It is crucial to reduce intake of sugars, salt and fats (particularly trans fats).
It is also vital to teach your children about balance. Okay, you may have chips at lunchtime. However, have some carrot sticks, an apple and some wholegrain bread to go with it.
It is also imperative that parents stock the kitchen with healthy foods.
A variety of colourful, chopped vegetables as well as fresh fruit, easily available for children to eat, encourages their eating healthy foods without them even knowing it.
Of course this takes more time and effort that putting a plate of biscuits or chocolates in front of them.
However, it is worth making this extra effort for their physical health. It is also fundamental for their emotional and mental health .
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