Type II Diabetes is now a major epidemic among youth in the U.S.
When kids have Type II Diabetes their body does not use insulin properly. At first, their pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for his deficit. But, over time it isn’t able to keep up and can’t make enough insulin to keep a body’s blood glucose at normal levels. This is called insulin resistance. Potential side effects in adulthood include:
- An increased risk for blindness,
- A two to four fold increase risk for stroke and heart disease,
- Potential for kidney disease requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant,
- Nerve damage or poor blood circulation that could result in foot or leg amputation.
Obesity is a major risk factor for developing diabetes. However overweight individuals who who exercise actively for one hour three times a week do not develop the same degree of diabetes as sedentary persons.
Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years.
We are developing an exercise-based program for public school middle students based on the Honolulu Marathon Clinic’s proven format. An 8th grade class will be monitored through high school as they engage in one hour of walking/jogging three times a week, checking on their height, weight, blood pressure, pulse and metabolic blood work including cholesterol parameters for insulin sensitivity/resistance.
Our team includes Physical Education Trainers, a Sports Event Organizer, PhD Exercise Physiologists, Research Nutritionists (all affiliated with the University of Hawaii or Kapiolani Community College) and a Sports Psychologist.