Nutritional Recommendations for Juvenile Diabetes
Juveniles with diabetes have the same recommended
nutritional needs just like anyone else. The only difference is that they
need to maintain normal blood sugar levels. In order to control these levels
children need to consume a well-balanced diet by eating foods in the correct
amounts.
One of biggest challenges parents encounter when they discover that their
child has diabetes is changing the way they currently prepare meals. Cooking
healthy meals for juvenile diabetes involves learning how to plan meals and
snacks within the guidelines recommended by your child's physician and
dietician.
How do parents know what to feed their children? There is no doubt that it
can be very confusing. Everywhere we turn we hear and see information about
the foods we should eat, and the one’s we should avoid. But how do we know
how to separate fad diet crazes from solid reliable information?
The American Diabetes Association has a Diabetes Food Pyramid that outlines
daily nutritional requirements. It is a bit different from the USDA Food
Guide Pyramid. The food groups are based on carbohydrate, protein, and fat
content instead of food classification. Foods are divided into six groups;
starches, proteins, fats, meats and meat products, fruits, and vegetables.
Each food group is then defined by serving size.
Compared side by side you will notice that the two pyramids have different
serving sizes. You may be wondering why? When foods are measured according
to content instead of food classification the amount we need to eat changes.
For example; you will find that vegetables like peas, corn, and potatoes are
in the starchy food section. Peanut butter, eggs, and cheese are in the meat
and meat product group.
The Diabetes Pyramid provides a wide range of servings from 1000 calories
and above. The exact number of servings children need depends on diabetes
management goals, the amount of calories to be consumed, and individual
nutritional needs recommended by your Registered Dietician. The number of
servings required each and every day includes meals and snacks.
The American Diabetes Association will help you understand the basic
principles for healthy eating, meal planning, exchange lists, weight, and
exercise. Including a whole host of other issues including diabetes research
and prevention, community groups, and current news and updates that help us
keep informed. | 
