A third of adolescents are considered pre-diabetic.
The data from the CDC found 8.4 million children between 12 and 17 were labeled as pre-diabetic, meaning their blood sugar levels may be higher than normal. That’s 32.7% of the total adolescent population in the country.
Dr. Terry Bravender, a professor of adolescent medicine and clinical professor at the University of Michigan, said once you detect higher levels, it’s not too late for intervention.
“Although that doesn’t require like medication or insulin intervention at that point, it is a significant risk factor for developing diabetes in the future.,” Bravender said.
Bravender says if left unchecked and it progresses, other health problems include heart disease and stroke.
