Well, but if you are dealing with type 2 diabetes, expecially at a younger age and while overweight--the easiest approach os to not eat processed foods. Keeping snacks and ready-foods out of the house not only helps you eat healthy--but also to eat less as it doesan;t give that hit of salt or sugar and takes a little preparation.

problem is that the parents have to also change their habits or it wont' work..

And that can be the hardest thing in the world to do--even when one's health is at stake.

exactly... I have an associate who's obviously overweight, and his 7 year old is over 100 pounds already. He notes that he can't put his kid in the car seat anymore at the same time that he's offering his kid a candy bar or a cookie!

the kid already has a double chin... and I know he's on the road to juvenile diabetes and it makes me sick. His dad mumbles something here and there about gastic bypass and all that, but it's obvious that he doesn't have the intent to change anything, and his son's paying the price.

argh.

The three basic types of diets which are currently being prescribed for diabetics are

* A moderately low-carbohydrate diet which restricts mainly simple sugars and alcohol, for those who have high blood levels of triglycerides (Type IV Hyperlipo-proteinemia),
* The most commonly used diabetic diet which has from 45 to 55% of its calories supplied by carbohydrate, and
* A recently tested high-carbohydrate, low-fat diet for people who have high blood levels of cholesterol and/or other fats (Type II and other types of Hyperlipo-proteinemia).

Most adult onset diabetes or type 2 can be cotrolled wiht diet as long as the BG and teh A1c are not that high. Slightly elevated in the 120-130 fasting to about 180 can be regulated with a very adjusted diet.
However in some cases AOD has to be helped in later stages with some sort of oral medication. IN later stages when these fail insulin will ahve to be given. So when these people proved well into their diabetes with diet alone, this is nto the norm. But the first stages of AOD.

I had to take medicine for the first month after I was diagnosed with prediabetes. My insulin levels were really high. Taking the medicine and adjusting my diet has really helped. It dropped my levels to normal, and has helped me lose weight. We are trying now to do it without medicine, but if my levels are off when I go back to the doctor in May, I will be back on the pills.

If she is carrying any excess weight, losing some of it might just be what she needs to keep her numbers down. She doesn't have to be thin, just a few pounds lighter will sometimes get the body to jump-start itself to better control.

Once you're a diabetic, even if in great control, any illnesses or emotional hardships might bring your numbers up and then medical interference will be needed. Then it's really p to the person themselves as to which way they want to handle it. There should be no shame in taking medication or insulin.