Most children with diabetes have type 1 diabetes and cannot make enough insulin to control blood sugar, requiring regular injections of insulin. In addition to insulin injections, diet also plays an important role in the management of your child's diabetes. Children with diabetes do not need to eat special food, but should follow a healthy diet that includes a variety of foods from each of the food groups. To help your child control his blood sugar, offer a constant amount of carbohydrates at each meal and snack. Consult a doctor or dietitian to determine your child's carbohydrate needs.
Breakfast
Carbohydrate foods include starches, fruits, milk and yogurt. Foods with carbohydrate raise blood sugar levels. Measure foods and read food labels to help control the carbohydrate content of your child's meals. Based on a 1,500-calorie diet, each meal should contain about 45 g of carbohydrate.
A constant carbohydrate breakfast with 45 g of carbohydrate may include 3/4 cup serving of unsweetened cold cereal with 1 cup of milk and a 4 oz. banana. Your diabetic child can have pancakes and French toast for breakfast, just be careful with the amount of syrup you use. A 45 g French toast breakfast includes two slices of french toast with 1 tbsp. of regular pancake syrup.
Lunch
Fruits and vegetables provide vitamins, minerals and fiber. Offer your diabetic child fruits and vegetables with most meals to help him establish healthy eating habits he can continue as an adult.
Sandwiches make a good choice for lunch for your diabetic child. A 45 g carbohydrate sandwich meal may include a grilled cheese sandwich, served with a small orange cut into quarters and some carrot sticks. Chicken nuggets are another lunch option for your diabetic child. Read the food label to determine the carbohydrate content of each nugget. Generally, five nuggets have about 15 g of carbohydrates. A 45 g carbohydrate lunch with chicken nuggets may include five chicken nuggets, 1 cup of milk, 17 grapes and 1/2 cup of cooked carrot coins.
Dinner
People with diabetes run a greater risk for heart disease. Limit your child's risk by offering lean sources of meat and low-fat and nonfat diary products.
A 45 g carbohydrate dinner meal may include roasted chicken with 1 cup of roasted potatoes, steamed broccoli and 1 cup of low-fat or skim milk. Kids can also have spaghetti and meatballs. Use lean ground beef or turkey meat to limit saturated fat intake. A 45 g spaghetti dinner includes 1 cup of cooked spaghetti with three meatballs with sauce and a tossed salad with Italian dressing.
Snacks
Snacking is an important part of the meal plan for children with diabetes. Aim for three snacks a day, each consisting of 15 g of carbohydrate. Snack ideas for your diabetic child may include 1 cup of low-fat or skim milk, a 6 oz. container of nonfat, sugar-free yogurt, one small apple, three graham cracker squares with 2 tsp. of peanut butter, one slice of toast with one slice of low-fat cheese or 1/2 cup of unsweetened cold cereal with 1/2 cup of low-fat or skim milk.
