Type 1 Diabetes Diabetic Diet - What To Look Out For

Type I diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes, is a kind of diabetes mellitus that usually appears in childhood. In type I diabetics, the ability to produce insulin is somehow lost. This can occur through accident, illness, or an unknown cause. Insulin is an important hormone that our bodies make to carry sugars out of the blood and into the cells to be used for energy for life. The reason that some children develop diabetes and others do not is not entirely understood, but many scientists are currently studying the issue. It is suspected that the onset of diabetes is a combination of genetic predisposition and incidental occurrences such as infections.

One of the main features of the diets used for individuals with type I diabetes is the use of injected insulin after meals. Because the body does not produce insulin as it should, insulin needs to be injected after meals to aid in the digestion process. This prevents sugar from building up in the bloodstream, which can be dangerous and cause complications.

Your doctor will prescribe a certain dose of insulin to be taken after each meal. Type I diabetics must eat at very regular intervals and in measured quantities in order to be able to predict the amount of insulin that will be needed. In a non-diabetic, a large meal will trigger the release of a large amount of insulin. Since a diabetic will be administering his or her own insulin, it is important that he or she be able to count and calculate the amount of insulin that will be needed for the food that is eaten.

One easy and popular way to calculate insulin dosages is by counting the amount of grams of carbohydrates present in foods. This is not as difficult as it sounds one you learn basic serving sizes for carbohydrate-containing foods. For example, one slice of bread usually has about 15 grams of carbohydrates. If you eat sandwiches, you remember that quickly! If your afternoon snack must have 30 grams of carbohydrates, then you might choose to eat a peanut butter sandwich with two slices of bread and some peanut butter. Because you are aware of the fact that you are eating 30 grams of carbohydrates, you will know how much insulin to take.

In order to learn to follow a diabetic diet that has been created for you by your doctor or dietitian, it is important to learn serving sizes. Many people find it helpful to use measuring cups to measure food until they can accurately estimate portions. Even very small children can be taught to follow their diets in this way. Most dietitians’ offices are equipped with games to teach these skills to young patients.

To successfully live with type I diabetes, it is important to follow a regular eating pattern and insulin dosage schedule. This is difficult at first, but soon becomes habit. For the best outcome, make sure that everyone in the household, as well as the diabetic child, understands the diet and insulin plan.

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