1. Type 2 Diabetes in Minority Children and adolescents Heath problems caused by environmental and socioeconomic factors

2. Minority children at risk Problem: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is becoming a crucial problem in minority children and adolescents, with the number of cases in the United States (U.S.) rising every year. Type 2 diabetes is highest among minorities: American Indians (25.3 and 49.4 for ages 10–14 and 15–19 years) African Americans (22.3 and 19.4) Asian/Pacific Islanders (11.8 and 22.7) Hispanics (8.9 and 17.0) Non-Hispanic whites (3.0 and 5.6) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDCP]. (2010, March).

3. Causes Minority communities have fewer grocery stores and more fast food restaurants then other higher socioeconomic communities do. Fast food restaurants draw in low-income minorities by advertizing dollar menus. Fast food is loaded with saturated fat, sodium, sugar, and lots of unhealthy preservatives.

4. Physical fitness Low-income minorities usually live in neighborhoods that are unsafe or lack parks and recreational places for the youth to play at. Parents don’t allow their children to go outside if it is unsafe.

5. Obesity Most young people diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are between the age of 10 and 19; however, there are many cases of children as young as 4 years old that have this disease and a major factor is their weight. Obesity has become more common among our minority youth today and is related to the increase in diseases such as type 2 diabetes. After age three, a child’s obesity risk increases in some family environments, not only because of the unhealthy food choices available to the child, but also because of the example that parents set at mealtimes.

6. effects Children and adolescents with T2D are at risk of: Eye disease Vision problems Kidney disease Circulatory problems including strokes, nerve damage and problems with wound healing Gum disease Shorter life expectancy and potentially death

7. Solutions Minority parents need to be more educated on their environmental and socioeconomic status. More education specifically on eating habits and healthy food choices. Encourage minority parents to engage in physical activities with their children even if it’s inside the house. For example, duck-duck goose, dancing, sitting exercises, jumping or jogging in place.

8. Do Parents Know?

9. How can you help? More information about minorities at risk of T2D on the American Diabetes Association web page. More prevention programs would decrease the current trend of T2D in minority children and adolescent. More research on the current issue of T2D in minority children and adolescents.

10. Many may have not realized that ones environment and socioeconomic status would play a huge part in the rise of T2D in minority children and adolescents, but research is finding that it is now a major concern. There is so much media attention on the epidemic of obesity in children, but we rarely hear about the epidemic of type 2 diabetes in minority children. Thank You.

11. Reference American Diabetes Association [ADA]. (2010). Type 2 diabetes. Genetics of diabetes. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/genetics-of-diabetes.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDCP]. (2010, March). Diabetes basics. Child overweight and obesity. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDCP]. (2010, March). Diabetes public health resource. Children and diabetes-More information. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/projects/cda2.htm Snyder, B. (2003, November 21). Minority children at risk, diabetes experts warn. Reporter, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Retrieved from http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/reporter/index.html?ID=2992 The Health Recourses and Services Administrative [HRSA]. (2010). Child health 2010. Children in poverty. Retrieved from http://www.mchb.hrsa.gov/chusa10/popchar/pages/102cp.html U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2001, November). Diabetes disparities among racial and ethnic minorities. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/research/diabdisp.htm