Juvenile Diabetes & Cholesterol Management

Diabetes is not simply a challenging and chronic disease in its own right, but it also is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

As a consequence, those with diabetes, including children and teenagers, are encouraged to take a more active approach to managing cholesterol levels. The American Academy of Pediatrics, for instance, recently recommended wider cholesterol screening for children. Underpinning these recommendations is the understanding that elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol in kids can lead to an onset of cardiovascular disease earlier in adulthood. It recognizes that the plaque in an adult's arteries may have begun developing very early in life.

The AAP also suggested that for a selected group of children, prescribing a statin medication might be appropriate. Drug treatment, according to these recommendations, should be considered for children 8 and older who face multiple risk factors for developing heart disease.

Yet, statins are not typically considered the first line of treatment. Instead, medical nutrition therapy is recommended. Medical nutrition therapy includes the following: decreasing saturated fat (less than 7% total daily calories), avoiding trans fatty acids, decreasing dietary cholesterol to less than 200 mg daily, increasing soluble fiber from oats, beans, psyllium or fruits, and adding plant sterols daily.

In a recent study published in Diabetes Education, the role of medical nutrition therapy was evaluated in a patient with Type II diabetes. The patient achieved a desired LDL cholesterols level through nutrition alone. Medications were not required.

The Study's author concluded that evidence-based nutrition guidelines have been evaluated and reviewed to demonstrate the effectiveness of heart-healthy eating for children with hyperlipidemia and type 1 diabetes.