Diabetes can be a scary diagnosis for any parent of a young child, but may be especially worrisome when your child is only 14 months old. While diabetes is with your child for life, it is a manageable disease if you have the right tools, including medication and a diet plan. Your doctor and dietitian teach you how to balance food choices and medication for good blood sugar control.
Diet Guidelines
You do not need to go out and buy your toddler special food to help manage his diabetes. But what you do need to do is try to make sure your toddler eats meals and snacks at the same time each day, and has about the same amount of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates in food raise blood sugar, and controlling how much your child eats helps control blood sugar. Carbohydrate foods include bread, cereal, starchy vegetables, grains, fruits, milk, yogurt and sweets. How much carbohydrate your toddler needs depends on calorie needs. Your doctor or dietitian can help you develop a plan specific to your child's needs. In general, each meal should contain 45 g of carbohydrate, and each snack 15 g. For balance, include non-carbohydrate foods with meals, including meats, fats and non-starchy vegetables.
Breakfast
A healthy breakfast meal for your 14-month-old includes 3/4 cups of whole-grain oat cereal, 1 cup of whole milk, 1/2 a banana and 1 oz. of cheese. This meal contains 380 calories and 45 g of carbohydrates. Children under the age of two need whole milk for its fat, which is essential for brain development.
Morning Snack
For a morning snack, give your toddler 17 small grapes cut into quarters. This snack contains 60 calories and 15 g of carbohydrates.
Lunch
For lunch, your toddler can have 1/3 cup of cooked pasta, 1/2 cup of cooked peas, 1 oz. of diced chicken and 1/2 cup of juice. This lunch meal contains 265 calories and 45 g of carbohydrates.
Afternoon Snack
A healthy afternoon snack includes two graham cracker squares with 1/2 cup of whole milk. This snack contains 120 calories and 15 g of carbohydrates.
Dinner
A healthy dinner meal includes 1 oz. of meat loaf, 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes, 1/4 cup of cooked broccoli, a slice of whole wheat bread and 1 cup of whole milk. This meal contains 410 calories and 45 g of carbohydrates.
Evening Snack
For an evening snack, try 1/2 cup of whole milk with 1/2 an apple cut into slices. This snack contains 110 calories and 15 g of carbohydrates.
