When it comes to children, preventing health issues further down the line could be as easy as carefully preparing their meals today.

One of the most common disease caused by poor diet and unhealthy weight is diabetes. Even if they don't suffer from diabetes themselves, parents should be informed about it. Although you have to be genetically predisposed to diabetes to fall victim to it, you'll still find it's rare for a parent to pass it onto their children. However, should your child eventually develop diabetes it could change their life forever.

Only a few babies will be diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes before they're born, and it seems to develop some time later on in childhood. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do about Type 1 diabetes, medicine is yet to find a cure. When someone suffers from Type 1 diabetes It means that their pancreas isn't able to secrete insulin correctly. A child will have to receive daily insulin shots via injections or a pump. Luckily there is some good news, because Type 1 diabetes affects only around 10 percent of people later on in life.

The real danger you have to worry about is Type 2 diabetes. Not because it's more dangerous, but because you can actually be responsible for preventing it from developing by considering and controlling the risk factors. Aside from genetics, the main cause of Type 2 diabetes in children appears to be their weight. As a parent, it's your job to take weight management seriously if you want to ensure your child is less at risk no matter their genetic makeup.

Weight Management

You'll be the one in charge for what goes into their mouth, especially before they hit their teenage years. It means you'll need to make sure they maintain a healthy weight for their age and height. Once they hit their ideal weight you'll want to keep it there as they grow, but if they're underweight or overweight you will need to do something to rectify the situation.

If your child is underweight they're still at risk of diabetes too, so don't assume it only affects those who are obese. The main reason a child could be underweight isn't because they run around too much when playing with their friends, nor is it likely to be caused by a serious medical problem. The reality is, they're probably not eating enough food. If they're not the kind of child to have a large appetite at mealtime, you can always include supplements in their diet. Supplements get their poor reputation from the false advertising some companies opt for. Regardless the anti campaigns and lawsuits against the corporations and individuals, there’s been ever so many myths surrounding the industry and products. They tend to promise life changing results, but at the end of the day weight gainers and protein powders are simply food. Your child is more likely to enjoy a chocolate shake than an extra helping of potatoes, so it's an easy way to add more calories to their diet without them complaining. Vitamin and mineral supplements will also help them stay healthy if they don't like many vegetables.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, you could have a child who is already overweight. Your goal is to help them slim down in the healthiest way possible to make them feel like they're going through a lifestyle change rather than jumping on a diet. The way you accomplish your goal is the same way you would help your child increase their weight. You need to manipulate the calories they eat on a daily basis, but this time they should be eating less instead of more. You should do this slowly instead of trying to starve them.

There are lots of tricks you can use to help a child lose weight, but there are a couple of great ones. Children tend to drink a lot of soda and other drinks full of calories, so you must replace what they currently drink with low calorie alternatives. You can also add more protein into their diet in place of some carbohydrates, because it will help them feel satiated for longer after their meals. If they enjoy vegetables fill their plate with those too, as they fill up the stomach without adding in lots of calories.

Stress Management

Managing their stress level is also crucial when you're dealing with children, especially in a world full of social media. If your child is stressed out, it could lead to them overeating. If they're overweight, it could lead to social anxiety which results in feeling even more stressed out. It's a vicious circle. Stress and social anxiety will also reduce the amount of calories they burn through running around having fun. Stress might not manifest itself in physical problems straight away, but these days it's something every parent should keep a close eye on.

Even after you’ve done all within your power to prevent your child from developing Type 2 diabetes, he or she might still end up with the disease. If you find yourself and your child in that situation, it's not the end of the world. Even if they're on insulin or other medication to help their body utilize the hormone more effectively, it's possible to get them off their medication. You’ll have to help them get down to a healthy weight, tidy up their diet, and encourage them to be more active. In other words, unless they have Type 1 diabetes there is always something you can do as a loving parent.