Worrying news: there are increasing numbers of teenagers with diabetes. This includes both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
More and more younger people are struggling with obesity. It is therefore not surprising that young people are more likely to have type 2 diabetes. But more and more young people are also developing type 1 diabetes, which has nothing to do with being overweight. This increase is alarming. Because the younger diabetes starts, the greater the chance of harmful consequences later in life.
American researchers studied the health of thousands of young people between 2001 and 2009. They saw that at the end of the study the number of young people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes had increased by more than 20%. Young people with diabetes who exercise a lot did better than those who sit still a lot. This only applies to type 2 diabetes. Incidentally, we also see this increase in type 1 diabetes in the EU.
The researchers also report that the youngsters were already showing signs of the effects of diabetes. For example, many children had incipient neuropathy, a problem with the nerves. This neuropathy increases the risk of amputations later in life. In addition, early diabetes can lead to other harmful effects, such as diseased kidneys and cardiovascular disease.
The increase in diabetes among young people is worrisome. Diabetes in young people is serious; these teens have significant damage to their health at a young age. There is a good chance that this damage will increase later in life. It's very important to figure out how to prevent diabetes in young people.
What Is Healthy Eating Without Cultural Foods?
Healthy eating is sometimes seen as a necessary evil.
On one hand, it’s essential to good health, but on the other, it’s suggestive of restriction and self-denial steeped in Eurocentrism.
Even in the Caribbean, where I’m from, many nutrition programs are modeled on the American food pyramid, which then implies what healthy eating looks like to the local communities.
However, nutrition and healthy eating are not a one-size-fits-all dietary prescription. Traditional meals and food culture deserve a seat at the table too.
In this article, I’ll explain why cultural foods are integral to healthy eating.
What are cultural foods?
Cultural foods — also called traditional dishes — represent the traditions, beliefs, and practices of a geographic region, ethnic group, religious body, or cross-cultural community.
Cultural foods may involve beliefs about how certain foods are prepared or used. They may also symbolize a group’s overall culture.
These dishes and customs are passed down from generation to generation.
Cultural foods may represent a region, such as pizza, pasta, and tomato sauce from Italy or kimchi, seaweed, and dim sum from Asia. Alternatively, they may represent a colonial past, such as the fusion of West African and East Indian food traditions throughout the Caribbean.
Cultural foods may play a part in religious celebrations and are often at the core of our identities and familial connections.
Cultural foods must be fully integrated into the Western framework
Healthy eating includes cultural foods — but that message isn’t prominent and often goes unapplied.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Dietary Guidelines for Americans is one of the gold standards for nutrition guidelines in the West. It recommends meeting people where they are — including their cultural foodways ( 1).
The Canadian Food Guide also emphasizes the importance of culture and food traditions to healthy eating ( 2).
However, the field of dietetics still has a lot of work to do to ensure cultural competence, which is the effective and appropriate treatment of people without bias, prejudice, or stereotypes ( 3).
During my training to become a dietitian, cultural needs and food practices were acknowledged, but there was limited interest or practical application. In some instances, there were few institutional resources for healthcare professionals.
Further reading: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/healthy-eating-cultural-foods