CDC data shows rise in prediabetes among Oklahoma teens. Here are the signs to look for

One in three kids ages 12 to 17 is now considered prediabetic, according to new CDC research. Dr. Theresa Horton from Utica Park Clinic in Owasso explains what parents should know and how to help.

How can parents find out if their child is prediabetic?

“It’s a blood test that has to be done. You’ll look at the blood sugar — it will be a little bit higher than it should be in a fasting state, so they haven’t had anything to eat or drink for 8 to 12 hours. Or a hemoglobin A1c. That’s a test that can look at an average, how your blood sugar’s been running over three months.”

Are there signs parents should look for?

“It is more common in people who are overweight, and that includes in children, too. So if your child is a little bit or a lot overweight, that can be a sign.

There is also something that’s called acanthosis nigricans. There’s a fancy word for it. On the back of the neck, especially in people who are overweight, the skin will turn dark. It can just look like the dirt won’t wash off. And that can be a sign of prediabetes. But oftentimes there is no external sign, and it just takes a blood test.”

Who is most at risk?

“If there’s a family history of diabetes, that is definitely a risk. And if the children are overweight, if their diet is unhealthy, if they don’t get any exercise during the day, definitely the biggest risk factor.”

Does this only affect teens?

“It’s something that can happen even before the teen years. We are seeing it in elementary school students. And my concern starts from birth.

It’s something that can be prevented if children are taught healthy habits, with eating less processed food and getting more exercise. But you could see signs in the elementary years. In teenagers is where the studies are showing the threefold rise.”