Chronic Diseases in Children

Diabetes and Hypertension are two common chronic diseases that are impacted by diet
and physical activity. A study by Nadella, Indyk & Kamboj (2017) shows that Type 1 diabetes
has a prevalence of 20 to 25 per 100,000 children and adolescents in the US. In the last ten years,
type 2 diabetes has further increased to 12 in very 100,000 child or adolescent. Those with type 2
diabetes have higher risk of developing early complications. In another study, Brady (2017)
reveals that about 17% of children aged 2 to 19 years in the US are obese. This equates to about
12.7 million children. Obese children further have higher risk for hypertension. The study
findings show that 70% of children with obesity have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular
disease. Obesity-related hypertension and diabetes is based on lifestyle changes that widely
incorporate physical activity and diet. According to Absil et al. (2019), physical exercise has
positive metabolic effects and also improves wellbeing of children and adolescents with
diabetes. In the same fashion, diet is useful in weight management to reduce the risk of obesity-
related hypertension.

Diabetes massively impacts the health and wellness of children and adolescents alike.
Children with diabetes children are dependent on their families and caregivers to administer
insulin and monitor their glucose levels. The disease further requires family and caregivers’
support for lifestyle choices and preferences which should be established in early life. These
mainly comprise of physical activity and healthy diet. Establishing healthy behavior helps to
reduce the risk of other diseases like cardiovascular disease that are associated with diabetes.
Given these conditions, children and adolescents from families that cannot afford to provide the
appropriate care are disadvantaged when it comes to their health outcomes. There is, hence, a
need to provide education and support through lifestyle changes and adequate education using a

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family-based approach. On the other hand, obesity can increase the risk of hypertension by
impacting the process of measuring and monitoring blood pressure. Ideally, obesity increase
body weight, and in turn causes large arm circumference. This leads to disproportionate arm
length that interferes with the accuracy of measuring blood pressure using manual auscultation.

When designing a wellness program for children with diabetes, regular physical activity
should be incorporated to aid in management of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Regular
exercise should be performed at least 150 minutes per week (Absil et al., 2019). The physical
activity can adopt a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and 75 minutes of vigorous intensity
exercise. These activities help induce metabolic improvements related to glucose intake and
insulin sensitivity. When it comes to Obesity-related hypertension, the wellness program should
primarily focus on diet to attain a healthy weight and heart healthy lifestyle. A diet that facilitates
weight loss helps to address the etiology of obesity-related hypertension, improve comorbidities
and ultimately lowers blood pressure.

Role modeling is crucial for parents and caregivers of children with chronic illnesses. The
involvement of parents and caregivers ensures collaborative management and is linked to best
outcomes (Martire & Helgeson, 2017). Further, the cooperation of family in terms of lifestyle
changes helps to improve numerous aspects linked to physical health. Role modeling can be
achieved through such support along with exercise programs that help children with chronic
conditions improve their health outcomes. Other issues that need to be addressed with parents of
children with chronic diseases include the child’s environment and support from family members
to ensure that these children achieve the best possible health outcomes.

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References

Absil, H., Baudet, L., Robert, A., & Lysy, P. A. (2019). Benefits of physical activity in children
and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a systematic review. diabetes research and clinical
practice, 156, 107810.
Brady, T. M. (2017). Obesity-related hypertension in children. Frontiers in pediatrics, 5, 197.
Martire, L. M., & Helgeson, V. S. (2017). Close relationships and the management of chronic
illness: Associations and interventions. American Psychologist, 72(6), 601.
Nadella, S., Indyk, J. A., & Kamboj, M. K. (2017). Management of diabetes mellitus in children
and adolescents: engaging in physical activity. Translational pediatrics, 6(3), 215.