Most children with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Children with type 1 diabetes cannot make enough insulin to manage their blood sugar and must give themselves insulin injections. In addition to medication, diet also plays a role in helping your child manage his diabetes. Offer him a healthy diet with a consistent amount of carbohydrates at each meal and snack. Carbohydrate needs are based on your child's estimated calories. Consult with a pediatrician or dietitian to determine your child's carbohydrate needs. Based on a typical calorie range of 1,200 to 1,800 calories, you can start at 45 g to 60 g of carbohydrates per meal and 15 g of carbohydrates per snack.
Breakfast
Carbohydrate-containing foods include starches, fruits, milk and yogurt. A basic understanding of food serving sizes can help you count grams of carbohydrate. For example, one slice of bread, one small apple, six crackers and 1 cup of milk all typically have about 15 g of carbohydrate. A carbohydrate-controlled breakfast meal for children might include 3/4 cup of unsweetened ready-to-eat cereal with 1 cup of low-fat milk and a small banana. Your child can also have two 4-inch pancakes with 2 tbsp. of light pancake syrup and 1 cup of low-fat milk. Or, try a scrambled egg with a toasted English muffin, margarine and a medium orange.
Lunch
Food labels can also help you count grams of carbohydrate. Pay attention to a food item's serving size and total grams of carbohydrate per serving. If your child eats more than one serving of an item, be sure to properly calculate her carbohydrate intake. A carbohydrate-controlled lunch meal for children with diabetes may include a peanut butter and jelly sandwich made with two slices of whole wheat bread, 2 tbsp. of peanut butter, 1 tsp. of jelly, a small apple, carrot sticks and 8 oz. of low-fat milk. Another meal idea may include 1 cup of chicken noodle soup with six saltine crackers, string cheese, sliced cucumbers and 17 grapes.
Dinner
Like all other children, your diabetic child needs to eat a healthy diet with a variety of foods from each of the food groups. Include plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. The fiber in these foods takes the body longer to digest and can help your child have better blood sugar control. Healthy dinner meals for children with diabetes may include 1 cup of whole wheat spaghetti with three turkey meatballs, 1/4 cup of marinara sauce and 1 cup of low-fat milk. Another dinner meal may include hamburger on a whole wheat hamburger roll with 1 cup of baked potato wedges with one ear of corn and a tossed salad with salad dressing.
Snacks
Offer your child two snacks a day. Include a source of protein with each snack, such as cheese, nut butter or milk. Protein in food delays stomach emptying and allows for a slower release of blood sugar. Snack ideas for diabetic children include 1/2 cup of unsweetened ready-to-eat cereal and 1/2 cup of low-fat milk, a slice of whole wheat toast with peanut butter, 12 whole grain crackers with cheese, a small apple with string cheese, 1/2 of a meat-based sandwich, 6 oz. container of sugar-free yogurt, 2 tbsp. of raisins mixed with a handful of peanuts or 1 cup of low-fat milk.
