PROVIDED
If you are concerned about your child’s
weight, speak privately with your child’s
pediatrician. Focus on health rather than a
specific weight or number. Don’t make neg-
ative comments. As a parent, the best thing
you can do to encourage your child to eat
right is be a good example.

Manage Blood Glucose
When there is not enough insulin or the
body does not use insulin efficiently,
blood glucose levels accumulate in the
bloodstream. Type 1 diabetes most com-
monly presents in children from 4-7
years old and from 10-14 years old.

According to the Mayo Clinic, other
potential risk factors for Type 1 dia-
betes include family history, genetics
and geography.

Type 2 diabetes is more common
in adults but can affect children, too.

Risk factors for Type 2 include weight,
inactivity, diet, family history, race or
ethnicity, age and sex, maternal gesta-
tional diabetes and low birth weight or
preterm birth.

The last two factors on Life’s Essential 8
that mitigate health risks are managing cho-
lesterol and understanding blood pressure
readings. Talk to your child’s pediatrician
about optimal blood pressure readings and
note that non-HDL (“bad”) choles-
terol—rather than total cholesterol— is a
reasonable predicator of cardiovascular risk.

For more cardiovascular health tips, or to
assess your own risks, visit heart.org/lifes8. 1
RESOURCES Heart health support for families in
the Washington D.C. and Baltimore
areas. inovachildrens.org/heart/support
Diabetes resources for families in
the Washington D.C. area.

childrensnational.org/departments/ diabetes-program-childhood-and-
adolescent/resources-for-families Managing and preventing diabetes.

dchealth.dc.gov/service/diabetes- prevention-and-control-program
Where your child can get involved in
sports programs in D.C.

dpr.dc.gov/page/kids-sports-fitness Programs to help quit smoking in
the D.C. area.

dchealth.dc.gov/service/ smoking-cessation-program
Heather M. Ross contributed to this
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