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The key to providing a good diet for a child with diabetes is to make sure they eat healthily. As with any child, the healthier they eat, the better they grow!

A child with diabetes can eat exactly the same food as a child without. But they need to keep control of their carbohydrate intake which, when balanced with insulin and exercise, keeps glucose levels in check.

So, what do carbohydrates do?

A person who doesn’t have diabetes can digest and use foods containing carbohydrates (“carbs”) easily. Their body converts carbohydrates into glucose, which is absorbed into the bloodstream. The hormone, insulin, helps move the glucose into the cells where it is used for energy.

The amount of carbohydrate a child with diabetes should eat depends on their age, size, weight and insulin intake amongst other things. Your nurse and healthcare team will help make a meal plan which everyone can follow together.

What about carb counting?

Understanding how many carbs are in different types of food will help you estimate how much insulin your child needs. Your nurse will tell you how carb counting can help your child’s diabetes management, but an easy to remember rule is:

1 portion of carbohydrate is the same as 10-15 grams of carbohydrate.

Here are some examples of carb content:

• Medium bowl of Rice Crispies cereal: 27g
• Large slice of white bread: 18g
• Slice pineapple: 8g
• One scoop of ice cream: 14g
• Muesli bar: 20g

Glycaemic Index

The type of carbohydrate eaten affects how quickly blood glucose levels rise after a meal. Recent studies have shown that equally sized portions of different types of carbohydrate raise blood glucose at different rates. These different foods are given different values and are listed in what is now known as the Glycaemic Index (GI). A food that raises the blood glucose quickly (eg, fruit juice) has a high glycaemic value, while a food that raises blood glucose more slowly (eg, brown rice) has a low glycaemic value.

In terms of keeping blood glucose levels well controlled it is better to eat carbohydrate that raises blood glucose levels more slowly (that with a low glycaemic value) rather than quickly. However, during an episode of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) it is important to have carbohydrate that raises the blood glucose quickly (e.g. fruit juice). A slow–acting carbohydrate, (e.g. a banana or wholemeal bread) should then be eaten.

Understanding how different carbohydrates affect blood glucose can help you and your child manage their diabetes more effectively. Knowing how much carbohydrate a meal or snack contains makes it possible to work out what affect it will have on the blood glucose level.

Confused? Don’t be, it’s really quite easy when you get the hang of it and it will soon be second nature to you and your child. Remember that your child’s healthcare team are well–equipped to deal with any questions you may have.

What about ‘diabetic foods’?

There is no special diabetic diet and diabetic foods are not recommended by Diabetes UK as they offer no benefit over ordinary foods and can be expensive. Soft drinks should be sugar–free or no added sugar drinks as sugar in liquid form is rapidly absorbed and raises blood glucose levels quickly.

How do I know what to eat and when?

Your nurse will talk to you and your child about how diet can affect the management of diabetes. In general, meals and snacks should be eaten at regular intervals in order to maintain stable blood glucose levels. Your hospital dietitian will work with you and your child to develop a meal plan that suits you all.

Can I still have my favourite foods?

Yes! As long as your child follows a healthy, balanced diet, there is no reason they can’t enjoy a piece of chocolate now and again. Just make sure you keep a close eye on their blood glucose levels so that your child can stay inside their target range. All you need to remember is that you need to balance food, activity levels and insulin dose.

It’s difficult to stick to eating healthily especially when there are tempting sugary foods like sweets and chocolate. But with a good meal plan, your child will soon be a pro at eating all the right food.

What is a portion of fruit and veg?

We all know we’re supposed to have five portions of fruit and veg a day, but how do we know what’s in a portion? This site is really useful, but here are some of our favourites:

• 1 medium glass of fruit smoothie – a refreshing way to start the day
• 2 handfuls blueberries – try mixing with natural yogurt for a healthy snack
• 1 medium apple or orange – great for the lunchbox
• 1 heaped tablespoon sultanas – try some on your breakfast cereal
• 3 heaped tablespoons of sliced carrots – take some to school as a healthy snack
• A bowl of salad – great for summer

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