Most children with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Children with type 1 diabetes do not make insulin and must give themselves insulin injections to control blood sugar. Insulin is a hormone responsible for transporting sugar from the bloodstream into the cell. Children with diabetes need to follow a healthy diet like all other children, but need to balance their carbohydrate intakes with their insulin regimens and activity to help control their blood sugar levels.
Diabetes Exchange Diet
The diabetes exchange diet is the most structured of all the diabetic diets and is best suited for children that have been recently diagnosed with diabetes. The exchange diet teaches you about the different food groups and how to balance your child's nutrient intake for blood sugar control. On the exchange diet, your child can eat a certain number of servings, or exchanges, from each food group based on his calorie needs. Food items within each food group contain about the same amount of calories, carbohydrates, protein and fat and can be exchanged for one another when meal planning. For example, when preparing breakfast you can exchange a slice of toast for a 3/4-cup serving of ready-to-eat cereal.
Consistent Carbohydrate Diet
Carbohydrates in food increase blood sugar. Starches, fruits, milk and yogurt contain carbohydrates. Instead of controlling everything your child eats, the consistent carbohydrate diet only controls carbohydrate-containing foods. On the consistent carbohydrate diet, your child is allowed to eat a certain amount of carbohydrates at each meal. The amount of carbohydrate your child needs depends on her estimated calorie needs and blood sugar goals. Consult with your doctor or dietitian to determine your child's exact carbohydrate needs. In general, each carbohydrate serving contains about 15 g of carbohydrate. If your child is allowed to have 45 g of carbohydrates at each meal, her breakfast may include 3/4 cup-serving of ready-to-eat cold cereal, 1 cup of milk and a small banana.
Carbohydrate Counting Diet
The carbohydrate counting diet is the most liberal of all the diabetic diet meal plans for children. Instead of using food to manage blood sugar, the carbohydrate counting diet uses insulin. On the diet, your child eats based on his appetite and you match the dose of insulin to his carbohydrate intake. Your doctor determines the amount of insulin to inject per gram of carbohydrate consumed. The carbohydrate counting diet requires you to have a good understanding of what types of foods contain carbohydrates and how to calculate grams of carbohydrate consumed using standard serving sizes and food labels. In addition to being a more flexible meal plan, regular insulin injections on the carbohydrate counting diet also improves your child's overall blood sugars.
