Diet plans for people with juvenile diabetes, also called type I diabetes, require meals that enable food and insulin to work together to regulate blood glucose levels, according to DiabetesLife. Juvenile diabetes is a disease characterized by inability to produce insulin, a hormone that regulates blood glucose, a type of sugar, according to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. Juvenile diabetics take insulin, yet the amount can fluctuate with exercise and the absorption rates of sugars in foods.
Calories
A balanced meal plan for people with juvenile diabetes should consist of carbohydrates that provide up to 60 percent of calories, proteins that provide 10 to 20 percent of calories, and fats that provide no more than 30 percent of calories, according to DiabetesLife.
Carbohydrates
Diet plans for juvenile diabetes should include a well balanced selection and moderate portion of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and avoid processed foods. Harvard Medical school says that glycemic index provides information about how foods affect blood sugar and insulin; the lower the glycemic index, the less the food affects blood sugar and insulin levels. Carbohydrates are foods that provide sugar to the body. People with juvenile diabetes must be cognizant of the type and quantity of carbohydrate in each meal to determine how much insulin to take. Whole grains, such as brown rice or millet, are low glycemic carbohydrates that digest and absorb sugars slowly at an even rate into the blood. Juvenile diabetics should avoid eating refined carbohydrates, such as white bread or white rice, because the sugar in these high glycemic foods are absorbed quickly into the blood and could increase blood sugar levels that can increase the risk for medical complications. Research by T.R. Nansel published in 2006 in the "Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior," revealed that low glycemic index carbohydrate foods are acceptable by type 1 diabetics and maintain stable blood sugar levels in patients with juvenile diabetes.
Fiber
A diet that includes soluble fiber, such as beans and oats, can slow the absorption of sugar and control blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes, according to MayoClinic.com.
Fats and Proteins
People with juvenile diabetes should avoid foods with saturated and trans-fatty acids, such as beef, minimize foods with cholesterol, such as eggs, and instead choose foods with poly-unsaturated and mono-unsaturated fats, such as fish, avocados and olive oil, according to DiabetesLife. Furthermore, people with juvenile diabetes should include fish in two to three meals per week, and choose lean meats, skim milk, non-fat yogurt and non-fat cheese and water or calorie-free diet drinks, and use liquid oils for cooking instead of solid fats that can be high in saturated and trans fats, says Diabetes-And-Diabetic-Diet.com.
References
- DiabetesLife: Diet and Juvenile Diabetes
- Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International: What Is Type 1 Diabetes?
- Harvard Medical School: Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load for 100+ Foods
- "Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior"; Acceptability of Lower Glycemic Index Foods in the Diabetes Camp; Nansel, T.R.; May-Jun 2006
- Mayo Clinic: Dietary Fiber: Essential for a Healthy Diet
