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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Now, the big question is, “what about school?” Here are a few tips about what we did when my daughter was first diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes:

1. Contact the school. Set up a meeting with the nurses. Explain to the nurses how to perform the insulin injections according to your child’s sliding insulin scale and how to figure the insulin dosage based upon what they are going to eat for lunch. (Helpful Tip: My daughter packs her lunch every day. Since we count carbohydrates, we premeasure everything at home and put a note in her lunch with the amount of Carb points and the amount of insulin that she should take based upon on her meal alone. Then, all the nurses have to do is take her blood glucose levels, apply the sliding scale (if needed), and give her the insulin injection.) Also, have the school put out your child’s recent picture into the mailboxes of all employees who work there. This will help to get the word out just in case of an emergency in the school with your child.

2. Set up a “Diabetic Kit” for your child. Since my child is a girl, she uses a purse. Inside of it, she has her glucometer, test strips, lancets, alcohol pads, insulin pen, pen needles, ketosticks (used to check ketones), glucagon pen, and even some peanut butter and cheese crackers (just in case). Upon arrival at the school, she takes her kit straight to the nurse’s office and leaves it. At lunch time, she goes a few minutes before her class does in order to go to the nurse’s office to get her insulin injection. Then, prior to getting on the bus in the afternoon, she just swings by the nurse’s office and picks up her kit.

3. Leave extra at school. We provide the nurse’s office with an extra glucagon pen at the beginning of the school year. We also provide snacks that they keep in the office in case her blood sugar is low. We send extra test strips and insulin to be kept at the school, as well.

4. Do not go anywhere without the kit! We have made it a habit that before she leaves the house that we ask her if she has her kit.

5. Train other family members how to care for your child in an emergency. In the beginning, my daughter couldn’t go anywhere. First, we had to get everyone trained on how to care for her. Cell phones nowadays make this a lot easier. We even taught her older brother how to give insulin injections, take her blood sugar, and how to use the glucagon pen.

6. Clean your cabinets out. Although, a diabetic can have sweets and other items, as long as they take their insulin for it, we cleaned out cabinets out and got rid of anything that was not recommended for her. This was just in the beginning until she became used to the idea that she could not have these items like she once did. Once she learned, we began to purchase those items again.

All of the tips listed here we have used ourselves. As a parent of a child with Type 1 Diabetes, once you come home from the hospital after the initial diagnosis, you feel lost. I wish I had information like this; it would have made our lives easier at that point in time. I hope this helps you, your child, and your family!

By: TJacks

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Tami Jackson is a freelance writer who has dedicated most of her past 6 years to learning about Type 1 Diabetes. She has done a lot of research on the subject in order to try to make her daughter’s life much easier. From new research studies that have been initiated to new insulin forms and beyond, her research has entailed countless hours of trying to find the best resources that are available on the market today for Type 1 Diabetes. She and her daughter have helped to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Association and more. They have participated in numerous walks, fundraisers through various organizations such as Hardee’s, and even have set up a lemonade stand in their hometown in order to raise funds for the cause.