Meal Planning for Children With Type 1 Diabetes
When you have a child with type 1 diabetes, meal planning is important. Everything your child eats can affect his blood sugar. Your doctor or a registered dietitian can help you come up with the best plan for your child, but there’s information all parents of kids with this condition should know.
Good nutrition
Getting Better Sleep When You Have Diabetes
In every issue of WebMD the Magazine, we ask our experts to answer readers' questions about a wide range of topics. In our July/August 2012 issue, we asked WebMD's diabetes expert, Michael Dansinger, MD, about the link between diabetes and poor sleep. Q: I have diabetes, and I'm not sleeping well. Are the two related, and what can I do? A: Yes, people with diabetes often have reduced sleep quality and quantity. Sleep apnea, medications, lack of exercise, and abnormal glucose and hormone...
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Like all children, kids with type 1 diabetes need nutrient-rich foods that help them grow and keep them at a healthy weight. Over the course of a day, your child should get about 10%-20% of his calories from protein, 25%-30% calories from healthy fats, and about 50%-60% from carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates
Carbs are found in most foods -- not just bread and potatoes. They supply the energy that the body and brain need to work their best. Steer your child toward complex carbs such as vegetables and whole grains. Â They have vitamins and minerals that will keep him healthy, and fiber, which helps control blood sugar levels.
Try to stay away from simple carbs, like white bread and pasta and other processed grains, candy and frosting. They can raise blood sugar quickly.
The amount of carbs your child needs depends on his weight, age, size, exercise level, and any medicines he’s taking. Your doctor or dietitian can help you figure out the number of grams or serving sizes your child should have each day.
Carb counting
Many families keep their child’s blood sugar levels steady by counting the number of carbohydrates eaten at every meal or snack, then adjusting insulin doses for it.
On packaged foods, the number of total carbs per serving is listed on the label. You can subtract the grams of dietary fiber since this isn’t digested. Then multiply the total by how many servings of that food your child eats. If you’re cooking at home or eating out, you can look up carb counts and portion sizes of foods online.
Constant carbohydrate plan
Another option is to have your child eat a set amount of carbohydrates at every meal and snack. He’ll need to eat at the same times every day, and also take insulin at set times. You don't have to eat the same foods everyday. You just need to stick to the total carbs set for each meal and snack.  Keeping to a schedule works well for many kids.
Good nutrition
Recommended Related to Diabetes
Getting Better Sleep When You Have Diabetes
In every issue of WebMD the Magazine, we ask our experts to answer readers' questions about a wide range of topics. In our July/August 2012 issue, we asked WebMD's diabetes expert, Michael Dansinger, MD, about the link between diabetes and poor sleep. Q: I have diabetes, and I'm not sleeping well. Are the two related, and what can I do? A: Yes, people with diabetes often have reduced sleep quality and quantity. Sleep apnea, medications, lack of exercise, and abnormal glucose and hormone...
Read the Getting Better Sleep When You Have Diabetes article > >
Like all children, kids with type 1 diabetes need nutrient-rich foods that help them grow and keep them at a healthy weight. Over the course of a day, your child should get about 10%-20% of his calories from protein, 25%-30% calories from healthy fats, and about 50%-60% from carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates
Carbs are found in most foods -- not just bread and potatoes. They supply the energy that the body and brain need to work their best. Steer your child toward complex carbs such as vegetables and whole grains. Â They have vitamins and minerals that will keep him healthy, and fiber, which helps control blood sugar levels.
Try to stay away from simple carbs, like white bread and pasta and other processed grains, candy and frosting. They can raise blood sugar quickly.
The amount of carbs your child needs depends on his weight, age, size, exercise level, and any medicines he’s taking. Your doctor or dietitian can help you figure out the number of grams or serving sizes your child should have each day.
Carb counting
Many families keep their child’s blood sugar levels steady by counting the number of carbohydrates eaten at every meal or snack, then adjusting insulin doses for it.
On packaged foods, the number of total carbs per serving is listed on the label. You can subtract the grams of dietary fiber since this isn’t digested. Then multiply the total by how many servings of that food your child eats. If you’re cooking at home or eating out, you can look up carb counts and portion sizes of foods online.
Constant carbohydrate plan
Another option is to have your child eat a set amount of carbohydrates at every meal and snack. He’ll need to eat at the same times every day, and also take insulin at set times. You don't have to eat the same foods everyday. You just need to stick to the total carbs set for each meal and snack.  Keeping to a schedule works well for many kids.
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