Eating Healthy
As part of their treatment plan, kids with diabetes should eat a balanced diet
full of nutritious foods, like anyone who wants to be healthy. But when kids eat more
of certain foods, they may have to adjust their insulin doses. Carbohydrates, such
as bread and pasta, will make blood sugar levels go higher.
Some kids may use a diabetes meal plan. A meal plan can help you keep breakfast,
lunch, dinner, and snacks on a regular schedule, which helps make it easier to control
your diabetes. It may also mention the food
groups you should include in your meals and suggest some portion sizes right for
you.
Even though it's OK to eat fast food or sugary treats once in a while, you won't
find a lot of these foods on your meal plan if you have type 1 diabetes. Everyone
who eats a healthy diet should limit these foods anyway, because eating too much of
them can make a person get too fat or cause other long-term health problems like heart
disease. People with diabetes are already at risk for these problems.
Checking Blood Sugar Levels
Checking your blood sugar levels is the only way to see how well your insulin injections
and meal plan are working. Most kids with type 1 diabetes should test blood sugar
levels with a blood glucose
meter. Kids with type 1 diabetes usually need to test about four times a day.
Some kids test their blood sugar levels even more often. The meter works by taking
a very small blood sample. When you test, you'll feel a quick pinch.
Your parents and diabetes care team may want you to use a continuous glucose
monitor (CGM). A CGM is a wearable device that can measure your blood sugar
every few minutes around the clock. Getting more blood sugar readings with a CGM can
help you and the care team do an even better job of controlling your blood sugar levels.
By keeping your blood sugar levels in a healthy range, you'll feel better. You'll
also be less likely to have diabetes problems later. Your diabetes health care team
will let you and your parents know what your blood sugar levels should be and when
and how you should test.
Being Active
Kids with diabetes can and should play a lot, just like other kids. Exercise will
be part of a kid's diabetes management plan because it can help prevent health problems
now and later in life. But blood sugar levels can change during exercise, so kids
need to know how to manage that.
Your diabetes health care team can give you some advice on what to do before, during,
and after exercise. They can tell you what to do if you don't feel right while you're
playing. But with the right combination of eating healthy, checking your blood sugar
levels, and taking insulin, you can be active and feel great!
Date reviewed: August 2018