The future of young people’s health may be bleak, according to a recent Center of Disease Control study.

The study found that one in three Americans could have diabetes by 2050.

“The best time to start [thinking about diabetes] is when you’re young,” said University human ecology professor Beth Reames, who specializes in nutrition and food safety.

A recent study from Sweden says higher education may be putting students at risk for developing a rare form of diabetes. However, the factors leading up to this form of diabetes are still unknown.

This form of diabetes is similar to Type 2 diabetes, but Type 2 usually develops later in life after students have left college, said Julie Hupperich, associate director of the Louisiana State U. Student Health Center.

The Student Health Center has not seen an increase in this type of diabetes yet, but stress could possibly be a factor, Hupperich said.

The National College Health Assessment, a survey of universities conducted in spring 2008, saw a national trend in students with increased anxiety and stress, Hupperich said.

Before speculations are drawn, more research is needed to discern whether higher education can actually increase the risk of diabetes, Hupperich said.

One in every 10 Americans has diabetes today, but that number could triple by 2050, according to the study. The increase was higher than previous estimates partially because the study factored in a population with more minorities and elderly, two groups with higher rates of diabetes, according to the CDC’s website.

Reames said although diabetes is associated with old age, young Americans are getting the disease more often these days.

“Because children are much less active and also have problems with gaining excess weight, we are starting to see Type 2 diabetes develop in children,” she said.

Reames said students should research family history and lifestyle choices to determine their risks for diabetes. She said it’s important for people pre-disposed to diabetes to eat healthy, get plenty of exercise and maintain a healthy body weight to keep from getting the disease early.

“Those are things that anyone can practice, but it’s kind of hard in college,” Reames said. “Sitting in front of the computer or the TV, you can have more of a sedentary lifestyle.”

College can bring lifestyle changes and hectic schedules that can impact college students’ meal times and exercise.

“Sleeping patterns and drinking are even risk factors for diabetes,” Hupperich said.

Reames said students may be pre-diabetic if they have “excessive thirst and urination, blurry vision, tingling feet or tiredness.”

“The problem is the symptoms aren’t always apparent,” Reames said. “That’s why it’s important to have blood sugar levels measured at regular intervals [by a doctor].”

Victoria DiPascal, computer science freshman, said her grandfather has a severe case of diabetes, and she is concerned about developing diabetes, as well.

“I try not to eat out very often, but it’s harder in college without my parents there to cook for me,” DiPascal said.