The goal of type 1 diabetes treatment is to control glucose levels and prevent your child’s blood glucose from being too high. The ideal diabetes management regimen includes insulin therapy, glucose and ketone monitoring, regular exercise, and healthy eating.
- Insulin therapy provides the body with insulin it can’t make on its own. Insulin can be given in different ways, including by syringe, insulin pen, or insulin pump. Your diabetes care team will help you choose the option that works best for you and your child. They’ll also teach you how to use it safely and answer all your questions.
- Glucose monitoring: It is very important to monitor glucose levels throughout the day. You can do this with finger-stick blood glucose checks and/or with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). CGM devices measure blood glucose with a subcutaneous glucose sensor and report a value every few minutes. Some devices can report values directly to a parent or patient’s mobile phone. The FDA has approved some CGM devices as a replacement for finger-stick blood glucose checks.
- Ketone monitoring: When the body doesn’t have enough insulin, the liver compensates by producing extra ketones, a chemical that converts fat into energy. High levels of ketones in the blood can become a medical emergency. Therefore, in addition to monitoring glucose levels, it is very important to monitor ketones when your child’s glucose level is very high or when your child is sick.
The role of food in diabetes management
It is important to understand how food impacts blood glucose for children with diabetes.
Food causes blood glucose to go up. Insulin causes blood glucose to go down. Too much food with not enough insulin can cause blood glucose to go too high. Not enough food with too much insulin can cause blood glucose to go too low. Further, the type and amount of food will affect how much and how quickly the blood glucose goes up. Balancing food and insulin together can help keep blood glucose in a normal range.
Carbohydrates, also known as carbs, are an important source of energy. They are also the main nutrient the body turns into blood glucose, also known as blood sugar. Everyone needs to eat some carbohydrates to stay healthy. Common carbohydrate foods include bread, crackers, cereal, pasta, rice, fruit, and milk.
- Carbohydrates that are high in fiber such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables slow digestion and contribute to a feeling of fullness. High-fiber food can also reduce spikes in blood glucose after eating.
- Processed carbohydrates that are low in fiber can raise blood sugars too high. Eating fewer processed carbohydrates helps manage blood glucose levels.
A dietitian can help determine the right amount of carbohydrates and types for your child.
Proteins and fats help kids feel full and have less impact on blood glucose levels than carbohydrates. Because of this, children with diabetes are encouraged to include protein and healthy fats at meals and snacks. Examples of healthy proteins include poultry, fish, beef, pork, peanut butter, cheese, and eggs. Healthy fats include avocados, olive oil, eggs, nuts, and cheese.
While these foods can be a part of a healthy diet, appropriate portion sizes are important. Too much protein can cause blood glucose to rise. Too much fat can slow down how food digests, making it difficult to balance food and insulin. Too much fat can also contribute to the risk for heart disease.
A healthy diet can mean different things to different people. A dietitian is very important to help with meal planning and understanding the right balance of foods for your child.
