23 Percent of American Teens Have Diabetes [study]

Nearly quarter of US teens either have it or are at risk

Think about this the next time you bring some cookies and candy home.

A new study found in the latest issue of Pediatrics says that 23 percent of American teenagers either have diabetes or are at risk of getting it.

Between 1999 and 2008, the percentage of people ages 12 to 19 with diabetes or pre-diabetes increased from 9% to 23%, the study found. In case you never heard of it, pre-diabetes is a condition where blood sugar is abnormally high, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes.

Obese teens are at an ever higher risk. MSNBC reports that the study also found 50 percent of overweight teens, and 60 percent of obese teens had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including diabetes, borderline-high or high cholesterol levels or high blood pressure (hypertension).

In a day where its easier to find a video game store than a basketball court, and a extra value meal is cheaper than a bowl of fruit, the study suggests "a large proportion of teens, regardless of their weight, would benefit from interventions that promote healthy lifestyles, including physical activity and eating a healthy diet." 

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