Expertos afirman que los estilos de vida sedentarios, la inseguridad alimentaria y otros factores están impulsando un aumento de la diabetes infantil en Kentucky.

Las investigaciones muestran que a nivel nacional, la cantidad de jóvenes con diabetes tipo 2 aumentó en un 77% durante el primer año de la pandemia, en comparación con los dos años anteriores.

Leslie Scott es profesora asociada y enfermera pediatra en el Centro de Diabetes Barnstable Brown de la Universidad de Kentucky.

Afirma que cada vez se diagnostican más casos de diabetes tipo 1 y tipo 2 en niños y niñas. Dice que cuanto más jóvenes sean diagnosticados, mayores serán las probabilidades de desarrollar afecciones como hipertensión arterial, enfermedad renales y neuropatías en el futuro.

"Algunos de los síntomas son muy vagos y difíciles de descubrir," dice Scott. "Pero si tienes un niño que bebe muchos más líquidos de lo normal, si pierde peso inesperadamente, si va mucho al baño; es recomendable que le hagan una evaluación."

Según la Asociación Americana de Diabetes, se calcula que 352,000 estadounidenses menores de 20 años tienen diabetes diagnosticada.

La diabetes fue la octava causa de muerte en Estados Unidos en 2021, y fue responsable de más de $300,000 millones de dólares en costos médicos directos tan solo en 2022.

Ben Chandler es CEO en la Fundación para un Kentucky Saludable, cuya nueva campaña pretende concientizar a la comunidad sobre la prevención y ayudar a las familias a detectar los signos de advertencia de esta enfermedad en los niños.

Afirma que un estilo de vida más activo y el mantenimiento de un peso saludable pueden contribuir en gran medida a reducir el riesgo.

"Tampoco tenemos las pruebas adecuadas para los Jóvenes, asegura Chandler. "Podríamos tener más eventos comunitarios que podrían incluir proyecciones gratuitas. Para que haya cosas que se puedan hacer y también en las escuelas."

Scott añade que las enfermeras escolares pueden desempeñar un papel fundamental en la detección temprana de la diabetes en los niños y niñas y en la mejora de su salud en general.

"Existen pautas para detectar el riesgo de diabetes tipo 2 en los niños, y eso comienza en la pubertad, a la edad de 10 anos, cuando comienzan los niños con sobrepeso u obesidad, ahí se debe comenzar a monitorear algunos de esos riesgos," dice Scott.

Vivir con diabetes puede resultar estresante y aislante para los niños. Scott afirma que Camp Hendon, un campamento de verano para diabéticos con sede en Louisville, ofrece un entorno educativo y de apoyo, así como una experiencia normal de campamento de verano para niños que tienen que controlar regularmente sus niveles de glucosa en sangre y administrarse insulina.

The California Parent and Youth Helpline turns five years old today - just in time for a brand new study that confirms its effectiveness.

The study, published in the Journal of Technology in Human Services, found that 85% of people felt more positive, calmer and less angry after calling in.

Lead author Elizabeth Harris, a sociology professor at Arizona State University, said that kind of result is rare in social science research.

"Parenting interventions are expensive and difficult to do," she said. "Most interventions take months to take effect, so to be able to do an effective intervention in 30 minutes, that's a big deal."

The data also show about one-third of callers improved significantly on the scale - meaning they either went from making all negative statements to feeling 100% neutral, or they started off neutral and said they felt "100% positive" by the end of the call.

Parents and youths in distress can reach a trained counselor at 855-427-2736, 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Or they can reach out online at CAparentyouthhelpline.org.

Smith said the data show the helpline is especially effective at making people feel heard.

"Fifty percent of people who are lonely and isolated in their parenting role, they feel less of that by the end of the call," she said. "So, it shows that in less than 30 minutes, it's possible for a trained counselor to make a measurable difference."

She explained that the research used what's called sentiment analysis and secondary qualitative analysis, and validates the approach taken by Parents Anonymous, the group that runs the helpline.

May is National Foster Care Month and In Pennsylvania, more than 15,000 children are waiting for foster families. Their advocates are urging more people to open their homes to help.

Carrie Eckhardt, assistant director of domestic services for Bethany Christian Services of the Greater Delaware Valley, said their goal is to support families and children through quality social services. She shared a quote from the mother of Elle, a girl from a tough background who is now thriving thanks to a foster parent who adopted her.

"She's made honor roll every quarter, tried out for and made a sports team at her school, enjoys her youth group, volunteers with a club of her peers and in our church," Eckhardt outlined. "She handles her homework, manages her emotions, completes her chores, fills up her social calendar. I'm just along for the ride, cheering her on."

Eckhardt pointed out the group focuses on child welfare, refugee help and keeping families together, and aims to have enough homes for the 200 foster care referrals it receives each year.

Diakon Adoption and Foster Care helps around 4,000 children a year in 30 Pennsylvania counties, including support after adoption through the Statewide Adoption Network. The Steel family has been fostering with Diakon for 12 years, caring for 21 kids.

Hannah Steel, an adoptive sibling, said in a Diakon-made video her adopted sister Maya struggled at first but is now doing well.

"When she first came to us, it was a little stressful and a little different for her," Steel recounted. "But as time progressed and everything, we all learned how to live together and understand each other. And I think for her, she's made it a long way."

Patricia Menow, senior director of permanency for Diakon, said they use social media and take part in community events to raise awareness about the ongoing need for foster families and to reach as many people as possible.

"We offer 'Triple P,' which is a positive parenting training program," Menow explained. "That's an ongoing program from the time they start coming through as a resource family, through while they are a foster family."

Alyssa Snyder, executive director of permanency for Diakon, said it is important to understand there is a great need for more foster parents and organizations like hers can support families of all types.

"There's no blueprint for this," Snyder acknowledged. "We support individuals who have this interest and ability, and the youth that are coming into care deserve to live in a family. So, we just want to encourage folks to consider that for all ages of youth."


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Ohio's child care system is under strain and a new national report highlighted how Medicaid helps support the workforce behind early childhood care, especially in rural communities.

Medicaid provides critical coverage for child care providers, many of whom are low-paid and often go without employer-based insurance.

Brittany Boulton, vice president of the policy and advocacy organization Groundwork Ohio, said it is especially vital for rural families.

"Cuts to Medicaid would make these problems far worse and leave thousands of Ohioans and rural families without access to coverage and care," Boulton pointed out.

A report by the Georgetown University Center on Children and Family Studies said 30% of children in rural Ohio rely on Medicaid for health coverage, placing the state among the top 10 nationally for rural child enrollment.

National experts warned access to health care is essential not only for children but also for those who care for them.

Daniel Hains, chief policy and professional advancement officer for the National Association for the Education of Young Children, said there is a clear link between health coverage and workforce stability. He noted about 16% of early educators lack insurance and those who do have coverage are more likely to stay in the field.

"We need more highly qualified, well-supported, well compensated early childhood educators, with 25+ percent of early childhood educators relying on Medicaid for their own health insurance," Hains noted. "With the critical supports the program provides for their education and for the children and families they serve."

Ohio's child care sector has lost nearly 6,000 workers since the pandemic began and Groundwork Ohio said access to Medicaid helps retain educators in a field facing critical staffing shortages.