What Your Child Eats Now May Determine Health Later On

Most of the diet talk that surrounds type 1 diabetes is about eating generally what you want in the right amounts. In other words, learn to count carbohydrates and make a good effort to stick to your meal plan. That conventional wisdom is still intact.

But a new study from the University of Calgary sheds light on an equally important part of the diet equation: nutrition. The study tells us that “the composition of early childhood diet may have a direct lifelong impact on genes that control metabolism and obesity risk.” So, just because the sugar-free sweet roll fits into the number of carbohydrates allotted for your child’s meal plan doesn’t mean it is nutritious.

But believe me, I have been through this battle of trying to balance glucose with nutrition. Sometimes getting my child with diabetes to eat anything to help balance insulin injections was the goal. Nutrition was secondary. It sometimes feels like the two are mutually exclusive. And if you think it’s hard when your kids are young, wait until adolescence. But I think it's a topic that all parents of kids with type 1 deal with on a daily basis and one that needs some discussion

I’d love to get your comments on whether you think more about nutrition as you plan meals for your child, or just carbohydrates. I’d also like to hear from parents who try to do both and what works and what doesn’t.

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