Diet is a very important factor for people with diabetes, as everything they eat can have either a positive or negative impact on the progression of their condition. Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California have found that overweight Latino children are showing signs of beta cell decline—a precursor to type 2 diabetes—primarily due to high sugar consumption, especially from sugary drinks.
Currently, statistics reveal that nearly one in four Latino children in the United States is overweight, and this problem is expected to worsen in the future. Obesity rates are rising alongside increased cases of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes among overweight teenagers. A report published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition highlights that excessive sugar intake during childhood may play a significant role in the development of diabetes within this population.
Experts in preventive medicine warn that overweight and poor diet among these children could have severe consequences for minority health and healthcare costs in the coming generations if left unaddressed.
The Study of Latinos at Risk (SOLAR) Diabetes Project, led by researchers from the Keck School, examined 63 overweight Latino children aged 9 to 13 in Los Angeles who do not yet have diabetes.
Experts explain that beta cells in the pancreas produce insulin in response to sugar from food. Insulin helps the body’s cells take in glucose, which they use for energy.
