Children who skip breakfast are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes when they are older, according to research. A study conducted by Oxford University, Cambridge University, Glasgow University and St. George’s College, University of London, showed that children who skip breakfast are more likely to develop “insulin resistance,” which affects the body’s blood sugar regulation mechanism because insulin is the only hormone that lowers blood sugar in the body. They followed more than 4,000 9- and 10-year-old British schoolchildren, recording how often they ate breakfast and the foods they ate. Children who did not eat breakfast were more likely to be at risk of developing diabetes than those who always ate breakfast. Children who skip breakfast have higher levels of insulin in their bodies, yet their organisms are unable to cope with this hormone, which is used to regulate blood sugar. The study found that children who skipped breakfast in the morning had slightly higher blood sugar levels than those who ate breakfast regularly. The study, published in the journal Public Library of Science – Medicine, suggests that parents should make their children eat breakfast regularly, especially with some high-fiber cereals, to help reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.