The nutritional recommendations for juveniles with diabetes are much the same as the general population in this country. Children with diabetes need to eat a well balanced and healthy diet in order to keep their blood sugar levels in the normal range. Because of this need to control blood sugar they must eat foods in specified amounts depending on how they affect blood sugar levels.

Finding out that their child has diabetes can be quite shocking for many parents. One of the most challenging parts of any diabetics lifestyle change is learning how to prepare meals and snacks. This can be doubly hard for the parents of a diabetic child because following the dietary advice of the doctor and dietician can affect the entire household.

Attempting to learn what foods to feed a juvenile with diabetes can be confusing at first. There is a wealth of information in books and on websites but for most parents in can be overwhelming trying to figure it all out. The important thing for parents with newly diagnosed diabetic children to do is learn to spot the good information from the bad.

The best place to start is the American Diabetes Association where they will find the Diabetes Food Pyramid. This pyramid is much like the USDA food pyramid that everyone is familiar with with one difference. The USDA pyramid classifies food by the group they are in whereas the diabetic food pyramid groups foods based on their carbohydrate, protein, and fat content and breaks them down into the amount of servings for each. There are six groups that make up the diabetic pyramid and they include starches, proteins, fats, meats, fruits and vegetables.

If we take a look at each category we can get a better understanding of each and how they fit into a well balanced diabetic diet plan.

Starches and Grains: These are the primary sources of carbohydrates for everyone. These include foods like whole grains, rye, oats and the starchy vegetables such as potatoes and corn. This group also includes the dry beans such as pinto beans and black eyed peas. The suggested number of serving per day is between six to eleven. This is a range and must be personalized to the individual’s needs and goals with the help of a registered dietician.

Vegetables: Vegetables should always be a part of every dietary plan. They are full of many vital nutrients, are low in fat, and high in fiber all of which contribute to good health. Diabetics should have three to five servings per day. It is important to note that the starchy vegetables are not included in this category and should not be substituted into this group of the pyramid.

Fruits: Fruits are loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber as well as carbohydrates. Serving sizes are determined by the individual fruit and suggested serving are two to four per day.

Milk: Milk and dairy products are essential in that they contain protein, calcium and many of the vitamins we need each day. Because they can contain a substantial amount of fat it is best to choose low fat or non fat versions of these products. The pyramid recommends two to three servings per day.

Meat and Meat Products: Meat and meat products are a primary supply of protein for all people. They also provide essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids the body needs to function in a healthy fashion. Choose only lean cuts and trim any visible fat to help keep the amount of saturated fat ingested to a minimum.

Fats, Sweets and Alcohol: While diabetics can partake of these it is recommended to keep their use in meal preparation and snack to a minimum. For the juvenile with diabetes this is important in that it teaches them food habits that will stay with them for the rest of their life.

The American Diabetes Association is a good place to start when it comes to learning about feeding a juvenile with diabetes. They have everything needed for healthy meal planning, exchange lists, weight control and recommended exercise programs.

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Early warning symptoms of diabetes among kids include intense thirst and excessive urination, which may result in bedwetting. The child loses weight and experiences puking and discomfort in the stomach. In advanced stages, the breath starts smelling sweet and the skin and tongue become dry. Toxins start amassing in the blood and make it acidic ( a condition called ketoacidosis ). The child feels drowsy, blood pressure becomes low, pulse lowers down and the kid may become semiconscious or unconscious.

The exact causes of juvenile diabetes are not known though there is evidence that it is associated with environmental factors, such as certain virus, bacteria and toxins. Heredity may also be a cause of the disease, though it is usually not the only reason for the onset of the disease.

To cope with child diabetes, the family has to have a comprehensive understanding of the different aspects of diabetes and its treatment. Help can be received from doctors, hospital teams and social service groups.

- Learning to administer insulin injections to your kid – Knowing the indicators of acidosis – coaching you to use monitors that help identify glucose levels – teach your child about self administration of insulin injections

Proper diet is an important factor in the management of juvenile diabetes. The diet of your youngster should rely on their weight and age. You must give your youngster a nutritious balanced diet that is loaded in fiber and carbohydrates. Dry fruits, cheese crackers and skimmed milk are acceptable snacks for children with diabetes.

Also, there are certain food items that your kid must refrain from. All white flour products such as white bread etc must be evaded. Foods with high sugar content such as pastries, chocolates, cakes, candies, tinned fruits should also be avoided. You should also limit the consumption of drinks like tea, coffee and cocoa in your youngster.

However, if your youngster is concerned in sports that are physically challenging then you need to make special diet agreements. Give him snacks that can boost his / her energy levels. Giving your child drinks with artificial sweeteners during travel is also a good idea.

You must teach the importance exercise to your diabetic kid. Exercise helps control weight, reduce blood sugar level and improve blood circulation in diabetic youngsters.

 Author Resource:- To know more about Diabetes Medication and Diabetes Treatment visit: http://www.diabitieslife.com/diabetes/

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How to Help a Friend Deal With Diabetes (Type 1)

from wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Finding out that your friend has diabetes can be scary. Diabetes can be a life threatening disease if not treated correctly. If you have a friend with diabetes, you will want to know what you can do to help them and how best to support them.

Steps

1. Learn everything you can about diabetes. The Web sites at the end of this article will give you a good place to start.
2. Ask your friend what you can do to help. Some people are not comfortable with everyone knowing they have diabetes, nor do they want everyone to try to help out.
3. Find out what to look for if your friend is having a low or high blood sugar attack, and what the treatment is. Treatment for low blood sugar and high blood sugar are very different, and if you treat for the wrong one, it could be life threatening. Again ask your friend or their parents.
4. Have your friend or their mother or father show you how to give insulin shots, so you can give one in an emergency.
5. Eat the same foods as your friend when you spend time together. A diabetic diet is very healthy. Your friend will appreciate the support.
6. Ask questions. If there is something you don’t know, that you feel is important, ask.

Tips

• Don’t assume your friend wants your help. Ask before you act to be sure.
• Even if your friend does not want your help, learn what you can about their condition.
• You are not the diabetic police, your friend may make bad choices, but they are their choices to make, avoid telling them what to do.
• Don’t talk about their disease all the time. They get enough of that at home and at the doctor’s office.
• Most important is to be a friend. Health problems are enough to deal with, help you friend live normally by treating them just like anyone else.

Warnings

• Never tell your friend to do anything against what their parents or doctor has told them.
• If you can’t remember how to treat low or high blood sugar, call a nurse, teacher, parent or other adult, or even 911 (or your country/region’s emergency number).

Related wikiHows

• How to Improve Your Health as a Diabetic
• How to Tell if You Have Diabetes
• How to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes

Sources and Citations

• Joslin Diabetes Center
• Center for Disease Control, Diabetes
• Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
• American Diabetes Association

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Help a Friend Deal With Diabetes (Type 1). All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Diabetes is a condition in which the body becomes unable to convert sugar, or glucose, in the bloodstream. This is because the pancreas has stopped producing insulin. This means there are excessive amounts of glucose that accumulate in the blood, which can lead to severe health issues. It is a medical condition that more and more people are developing. It is believed that each year, approximately 30,000 people in the US are diagnosed with the disease. Worldwide, that number is over one hundred and twenty million people who are suffering from the condition.

Juvenile diabetes is classified as a chronic condition. It’s a result of the body being unable to correctly deal with the sugar present in the bloodstream. This failure to suitably manage blood sugar can cause problems as your system tries to convert the sugar. This then leads to the inability of your body’s cells to absorb the glucose, so it stays in the blood stream. In most instances, those who suffer from this condition will require a lifetime of insulin injections in order to break down the blood sugar.

Research into juvenile diabetes reveals that this condition is an autoimmune disease, wherein the body turns on itself. For reasons unknown, your immune system starts to attack the very components that are there to protect it. In this case, it is the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas that are the target.

It’s important that you learn what the symptoms of juvenile diabetes are so you can be tested immediately. This is a very dangerous disease if left untreated, and immediate diagnosis and treatment is essential. The usual indicators are excessive thirst and frequent urination. These are symptoms of both juvenile and Type 2, more commonly called adult onset diabetes.

Proper management of the disease involves eliminating sugar from your diet. You will also have to make other changes to your eating habits and overall lifestyle.

Discovering a cure for this disease involves ongoing research. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the leader in this endeavor. It also has a global mandate to assist diabetic persons in learning to manage their disease. As well, the foundation does a great job of raising funds so that research can continue.

The incidence of juvenile diabetes is increasing globally. It’s a serious medical condition that causes elevated blood sugar levels, which can lead to devastating health problems and even death. If you’re concerned about the condition and want to to know more about the various kinds of diabetes, as well as the causes, symptoms and treatment approaches, visit Diabetes Treatment.

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Knowing the warning signs for juvenile / type 1 diabetes could save your life or the life of someone you know and love.

The following are some warning signs of type 1 diabetes. While some of these symptoms may occur over time, some can occur suddenly. It is important to discuss these with your doctor or pediatrician as soon as possible. In the event of sudden and/or severe drowsiness, decreased responsiveness, heavy or labored breathing, or unconsciousness, you will want to immediately call 911.

• Extreme thirst
• Frequent urination
• Sugar in urine
• Fruity or sweet odor on breath
• Increased appetite
• Sudden, unexplained weight loss
• Sudden vision changes
• Severe drowsiness
• Heavy or labored breathing
• Unconsciousness

While this is not a thorough list of signs and symptoms, it should be enough to cause you to feel that there is something wrong or different in the person affected and for you to seek medical attention.