The Children's Hospital at Dartmouth reports that most children with diabetes are type 1 diabetics. Type 1 diabetics do not produce insulin. Insulin is responsible for allowing blood sugar from the blood stream into the cells. Children with type 1 diabetes must be given insulin shots to control their blood sugar. In addition to insulin, children with diabetes need to follow a balanced diet, which may include carb counting. According to the American Diabetes Association, foods that contain carbohydrates raise blood sugar, and controlling the amount of carbohydrates consumed, along with an insulin regimen, help to keep blood sugar within target range.
Counting Carbs for Pediatric Diabetic Patients
Step 1
Determine the child's caloric needs. A pediatrician can help calculate the caloric needs for a diabetic child, or go to the mypyramid.gov website (see Resources), click the "my pyramid plan" tab and enter the child's age and sex for estimated caloric needs. Knowing the caloric needs will help determine the child's carbohydrate needs.
Step 2
Estimate total grams of carbohydrates. Multiply the estimated calories by 50 percent and divide by 4. This number is the total grams of carbs the child needs per day. You will need this number to help develop the meal plan.
Step 3
Develop a meal plan. Divide the total carbs between 3 meals and 3 snacks, whereby each meal has the same number of carbs and each snack has the same number of carbs. The number of carbs consumed at each meal and snack should be consistent from day to day. It is more important to know the individual meal and snack carb numbers than the day's total.
Step 4
Learn what foods contain carbohydrates. The Joslin Center reports that most of the carbohydrates consumed come from three food groups: milk, starch, and fruit. Vegetables contain some carbohydrates, but meats and fat have none.
Step 5
Learn serving sizes in relation to carbohydrates. According to the Joslin Center, a single serving of carbohydrates usually has about 15 g. Serving size examples include 1 cup milk, 1 slice of bread, 1/2 banana.
Step 6
Learn how to read food labels to count carbohydrates. According to the American Diabetes Association, label reading makes carb counting easy. First look at the serving size, and then look at the total grams of carbohydrates for that serving. The grams of carbohydrates can be adjusted to the appropriate child-size serving. If your child eats less than the serving listed on the label, then he will have eaten less total carbohydrates.
Step 7
Use measuring tools like scales, measuring cups and spoons to serve the appropriate portion of carbohydrates.
Tips and Warnings
- The Joslin Center recommends The CalorieKing, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter by Allan Borushek to use as a reference to assist with carb counting. The pediatrician can make a referral to a dietitian to help with meal planning and carb counting.
- Kids with diabetes like to eat the same foods as their friends. Carbohydrate counting allows for greater flexibility with meal planning for pediatric diabetics. While it is important for all children to make healthy food choices, the focus of the diet for children with diabetes is to avoid arguments about food and allow for reasonable choices.
Things You'll Need
- Calculator
- Food scale
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Carbohydrate counting book
