If diabetes runs in your family and you're watching your teenager's health with a quiet sense of worry — you're not being paranoid. You're paying attention. And you're already ahead of most parents who don't ask questions until a doctor forces the conversation.
In this episode, Dr. Jenny Gourgari breaks down something most families never hear: there are specific metabolic tests officially recommended for teenagers at elevated risk for diabetes — and most families don't know to ask for them.
If your teen has a family history of diabetes, carries extra weight, shows signs of insulin resistance, or is in the middle of puberty (which itself causes a 30% drop in insulin sensitivity — yes, really), this episode is essential listening.
Dr. Jenny walks you through every test, every number, and exactly what to say at your teen's next doctor's appointment — so you walk in informed, prepared, and ready to advocate for your child.
In this episode you'll learn:
- Why family history of diabetes is a clinical risk factor — not just background information
- How insulin resistance builds quietly for years before blood sugar ever looks abnormal
- Why puberty itself puts teens with family history at significantly higher risk
- The exact criteria that qualify a teenager for metabolic screening
- The three tests to ask for — fasting glucose, Hemoglobin A1C, and the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) — and what every number means
- What to do if results come back in the prediabetes range
- Three lifestyle changes you can start this week — sleep, food quality, and movement — with specific, doable steps
This isn't about fear. It's about catching something early enough to actually do something about it. Prediabetes is reversible — but only if you know it's there.
By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what to ask for, what the numbers mean, and how to start changing the trajectory for your teenager — one small step at a time.
I’m Dr. Jenny Gourgari—pediatric endocrinologist, certified in obesity medicine and a health coach.
After helping hundreds of teens struggling with their weight and hormones, I’ve created a whole new path by doing what most programs miss: balance puberty hormones naturally and create habits that actually last.
Here's what makes this different:
✅ No dieting. No calorie counting. No shame.
✅ No more food fights between parents and teens.
✅ No weight obsession—just healthy habits
✅ Real science behind how puberty hormones affect weight
✅ A safe, supportive approach that prevents eating disorders
Because when teens understand their hormones and get the right support, they don’t just lose weight—they gain strength, energy, confidence, and freedom!
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