The Importance of Healthy Eating

The Importance of Healthy Eating (For Diabetic Teens)

 Teens must eat healthy, since this is a major growth period in the human life, and marks the crossover into adulthood from adolescent. Healthy eating means getting the recommended amount of each recommended nutrient, which means eating balanced meals. If normal teens do not eat healthy, they will lose out on growth and not mature as well physically. In diabetic teens, this is even more prevalent. If too much sugar is consumed and absorbed into the blood, it cannot be removed as easily. Diabetic teens need to watch their levels of sugar intake carefully, as doing otherwise could land them in the hospital quickly. Diabetic organisms lose the ability to control their blood sugar levels naturally, and instead need insulin supplements and shots to regulate levels. With diabetes, much sugar in the body becomes fat, causing an imbalance in body composition, and in extreme cases, obesity. Healthy eating will help to keep the blood sugar levels lower in diabetic teens, and provides more energy by supplying more useful fuel for the body. Healthy eating entails lower amounts of sugar than the average teenager, as many sugary drinks, desserts, and snacks are consumed by teenagers.


Below is a simple model of the interactions between insulin and glucose in a normal (left) teenager, and a diabetic (right) teenager.

Source:

"Tips for Teens with Diabetes: Make Healthy Food Choices." National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2017. <https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-communication-programs/ndep/living-with-diabetes/youth-teens/tips-food-choices/Pages/publicationdetail.aspx>.