My son has type 1 and I am really confused about diet?

[Jordanimo]

My son is 13 and was diagnosed a month ago with type 1. He became quite over weight at the end of last year and after starting a good diet and joining exercise groups he began losing weight slowly then in April he lost a lot of weight rapidly and was then diagnosed with t1 in May. Since then he has been following a carb diet given by consultants and is using nova rapid an glargine insulin but he is getting bigger again and I am really confused about carbs and diabetic diet. Can anyone help me or explain it in really simple terms. He has had issues in the past with bullying at school about his weight and was so pleased when he looked so good but he needs to be healthy and I want to advise him best I can.

 

[donnellysdogs]

Basically since US President Eisehower had a heart attack the US and rest of world governments have decided that carbs were the best ingredient for long term health...( very beief explanation!)

Since then nhs advice has progessed to having carbs at every meal.

However, as a lean T1 for 30+ years the most important factor for T1's is to be able to change and adjust their insulin doses to eat less carbs, without fear of hypo's.

Carbs are found in the foods that may cause extra weight. However, ALL food can cause weight gain if too much is eaten... So it is a sort of balancing act... Especially with children that are growing.

Have you had course on dafne? Or is son currently on fixed doses by consultant and dsn's?

Have son's levels stabilsed to between 5 and 8 for majority of each day and night?

Their is a slow recognition from some medic's that lower carbs are better for weight loss and better bg levels.
However, the vast amount of nhs clinicians still try to state that xx% (probably 50%) of meals should be carbs. Not sure on these %'s though..

Many people on this site have found that fewer carbs give better all round blood results and better weight-losing or keeping to.

It is genuinely difficult for a child, but in the same breathe I will say that a child learns his future lifestyle habits largely from parents....

It sounds as if your son found being less weight better for his well being and his confidence too. Would you be able to say approximately how many carbs he is currently eating a day and if his levels are balanced?

I think also that T1's may find it easier with lesser carbs, as then we inject less insulin, and lesser room for errors!!!


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[sunday]

Carbs are sugar. The white sugar we use to sweet our meals is a fast sugar. Our body splits the sugar. The fast sugar needn´t to be split like dextrose. That´s why you eat that when blood sugar is low. Other carbs are in bred for example. Here our body has to work and to split it. So the blood sugar goes up more slowly because it takes time to split it and bring it from our stomach into the blood. If you eat granary bread it takes even more time. So it is good to eat granary products because the body takes more time to stomach. So you won´t get hungry so soon again.

The muscles use the sugar to move. So it is good to move a lot because you use the sugar you have eaten. But without insulin it can´t get there. The insulin is the key to open the muscle cells to get the sugar.

Hope this helps you.

 

[czj]

I guess your son's diagnosis has been a real shock. Everyone on the forum will do their best to help.

I was diagnosed when I was 11, and my weight changed dramatically too. My sister had been diagnosed a year before so when I became thirsty I did my drinking in secret, delaying the inevitable. I lost a lot of weight, just like you son. As Sunday explained, insulin helps our bodies use the sugar we need. When we don't have it we can't get all the nutrition from our food, so our body uses our reserves, and we lose weight.

Once we have insulin again we can get the sugar from our food, so we start to make reserves again, and so we put the weight back on.

From my experience this spell of being so thin doesn't seem to have done me any harm. Since your son is likely to be eating a fairly healthy diet from now on, here's hoping he stabilises at a weight you are both happy with.

Good luck

 

[Totto]

Almost all carbs are converted to glucose once inside us and insulin is needed to use them and keep bg level normal. The other effect of insulin is to stop the body using its own fat stores as fuel. This is why high carb diets tend to make us gain weight. If you eat less carbs you don't need as much insulin and it is easier for the body to use the stored fat as fuel.

Metabolism is incredibly complicated and regulated by a host of hormones.

Furthermore, carbs as such aren't that important for us, particularly so grains. Remember, it is only in the recent 10 000 years or so we have grown them while humans have been around for considerably longer.

The liver makes glucose from other sources even if you don't eat any carbs to keep bg up.

What I mean to say is you could look into LCHF as a possible way for you son. It seems it makes bg control easier and helps with weight. Just remember that fat isn't fattening nor does it raise bg, but carbs are/do.

There is no science whatsoever behind the recommendation of 50-60 E% carbs in the diet, so you can disregard this completely.

 

[AdamAdam]

Hi,

Story goes like this, you eat a pizza loaded with carbohydrate you'll need inject a lot of insulin, insulin is a fat building hormone, so you eat high carb diet you'll add weight and have uncontrolled blood sugars.

You eat a high fat low carb diet, you'll need a lot less insulin, you'll lose a lot of weight, feel fuller for longer, and the blood sugars will be much more predictable.

Fact 1: Insulin makes you fat
Fact 2: Out of the three main macro-nutrients (Fat, Protein, Carbs), Carbs are not essential to life were as Fat and Protein is.
Fact 3: Fat doesn't make you fat!

Your son needs eat a low carb high fat diet- Further reads Gary Taubes (Good Calories Bad Calories), Dr Bernstein Diabetes Solution.

 

[mrman]

Don't wan't to seem rude, but, what was his diet like before he was diagnosed and previously overweight?
Whilst insulin counteracts the carbs eaten to convert to energy does not mean your son will gain extra weight alone. Overeating and using insulin to compensate the overeating or compensating periods of no activity is what causes weight gain.

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[donnellysdogs]

Not necessarily a low carb, but less carbs.

The OP is new to diabetes and has to balance nhs advice to experienced diabetics and her own researching.

I am concerned that when anybody says low carb.... That there is no examples of what low carb amounts you are actually advising.. So that's why I mention lower carbs. The child may be eating say 100g of carb or 250g a day... You do not know this information. So just saying low carb is difficult for a new person to diabetes to grasp, especially against nhs advice of carbs with every meal and snacks of carbs too.

It is best to find out how many carbs a day is currently being ate.. And to give advice from that.

Attacking Brett in such a manner could well put the OP off from responding and asking any more qurstions. I hope not.




Loving life

 

[phoenix]

Injected insulin is replacing the insulin that we would make ourselves if we could and taking it does not mean that we have to put on weight.
Your son has only been diagnosed for a month, he lost weight because his body could not make use of the energy he took in , he would have lost fat but also lean tissue (muscle) and fluids.He can now do that so is regaining weight. (not all fat by any means in a month)

Growing children need a full complement of nutrients, for growth of muscle, bone and brain. Their bodies change rapidly. (so within months a child can grow inches and their BMI changes) so I think that you will find that most specialists suggest that a child who is in the higher percentiles for weight adopts a healthy diet with appropriate portion sizes and activity levels .

Here is some general advice on healthy eating for overweight children (from a variety of causes) from the specialist dept of a US hospital. The plate model it suggests is exactly the same as I was taught and use for diabetes (I'm in France, it works for me) http://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/education/healthy_diet_tips/index.html
Carbohydrates are contained in veg, fruit, dairy, whole grains (even some animal parts). They provide energy and come together with vitamins and minerals. Cutting or reducing carbs to a minimum may mean an insufficient intake of some essential elements.
You really though need to talk with your child's own specialists , it's early days yet and you will still be learning how to adapt doses of insulin , cope with exercise etc. Take small steps. I hope you will get some replies from parents of children with T1, There is an online group that many belong to.
http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/uk/

 

[mrman]

Brett, I think you need gain some real knowledge about diabetes before you start dishing dangerous or wrongful advice to diabetics.

'Overeating and using insulin to compensate the overeating or compensating periods of no activity is what causes weight gain'

Overrating does NOT cause weight gain. You could over eat chicken or lard an you will gain almost zero body fat. Having no activity in your life doesn't necessarily mean your going get fat. I know people who snack on carbs and exercise whole day yet they still add weight. I also know people who sit on their backs-sides and eat a low carb high fat diet and still shred a ton of weight.

Finally, to ask what his diet was pre-diabetic is completely irrelevant and unhelp. The questioner asked what diet their son should be on for loosing weight and presumingly normalising his blood sugars. - The answer is a low carb high fat diet.

I think its totally acceptable to suggest if a type 1 eats too much using their injected insulin they will gain weight. and what is insulin mainly used for? Oh, carbs mainly, so if they are overeating carby/sugary stuff using their injected insulin weight gain will happen. If they reduce their carb intake to a suitable amount for them therefore reduce their insulin , thats bad is it. To add the op hasn't stated a typical days food their child has, requesting that info would help! I'm perfectly entitled to my opinion. If you can't state something of use to the poster jog on, cause I'm refraining from having any further conversation from yourself.

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[Dillinger]

It's a very confusing time and my sympathies go out to you.

You've sort of walked unknowingly into the key debate in diabetes; i.e. the appropriate quantity of carbohydrates in our diets.

I'm sure the responses above were all very well intentioned but I can see how confusing they may be.

You and your family are on a learning curve and things will improve.

I would read this forum and ask questions, speak to your diabetes team, speak to your son on how he is finding things, attend the DAFNE course, read all you can and try to keep your spirits up; it is not the end of the world.

The books 'Bloodsugar 101' by Jenny Rurhl, 'Think Like A Pancreas' (forgotten the author) and Dr Bernstein's 'Diabetes Solution' are all very helpful.

Lastly, here is a blog by a mother with a teenage diabetic son;

http://diabeticalien.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

Best

Dillinger

 

[donnellysdogs]

If you all refer back to yhe original posting.. It says that the consultant gave a diet for the mum and lad to follow....this would indicate that if the consultant is following nhs guidelines on health then the OP has to become confident to adjust bolus's and carb counting.

More importantly the OP would have to be confident enough to be able to explain why she has gone against the diet plan that the consultant has given.

To be honest, I would recommend that the OP has a good look round this forum for persons and postings of low carbs and gain enough confidence that she feels able to speak to the consultant and of course with her son and to suggest that less carbs are ate on the basis that there is less room for error and causing high levels or hypo's.

The less carbs the less room for error.. Would be my view point to talk to the consultant about... And to get confidence in adjusting bolus and basal rates.

It has been a while since the original posting and I hope that 'mum' will come back to us.


Loving life

 

[donnellysdogs]

'and what is insulin mainly used for? Oh, carbs mainly' This sentence is completely untrue and implies that everyone eats a high carb diet aswell as complete ignorance that protein does raise blood sugar. I and my diabetic friend are both type 1's most of our insulin covers the protein portion of our meal. If I decided take out the protein out and eat just the veg I only need to inject about 1.5 units compared 9 units. So in my case I don't use insulin 'mainly' to cover my carbs.

'If they reduce their carb intake to a suitable amount for them therefore reduce their insulin , thats bad is it. ' Please re-read my post, I actual encouraged a low carb diet and small doses of insulin, this reflects really how much you misread not only my post but the original question.

'To add the op hasn't stated a typical days food their child has,' This is completely irrelevant question because the Poster hasn't asked for their sons diet plan to be scrutinised, the poster has made it quite clear that a diet needs to be suggested for his treatment- in others words which macro-nutrients (Carb, Protein, Fat) should make up for most of what he eats.

Of course your entitled to your own opinion, no one said you couldn't, but to give statements without proof really adds more to the confusion.

Adam, sorry.. I think you are totally misinterpreting Bretts post.
Please don't let your own agenda for low carbs be personal attacks on others. (i am a low carber myself).

You appear not to have even paid any attention to the detail of my post at all stating about the OP and diet from consultant.

Sorry, this is not the place to attack people. If you have a problem with Bretts advice then please PM him.



Loving life

 

[stephsmum]

Jordanino, my daughter's story is pretty much the same as your sons. She is also is dyspraxic, has an ASD and mild learning difficulties. If you're on Facebook , join Parents of Type 1 Teens

 

[gabrielwillson]

People who are diagnosed with type 1 diabetes or juvenile diabetes require more known by many as are insulin dependent people who need to see what they eat. Unlike people who are type 2 diabetes, which are more focused on reducing your weight; the first type of this disease is needed is a food menu provided to control the consumption of fats, proteins and carbohydrates in the body. Thus, the blood glucose is stabilized if there would be further complications.

The first type of diabetes treated with regular insulin dose and diet type 1 diabetes menu plan. This form is very common in children, but young adults are not exempt from this disease.

Complications such as levels in the blood and heart disease are common in Type 1 Like any form of diet menus, menu type 1 diabetes diet is a well - organized diet that combines the right amount or dose of hydrates carbon, lipids and proteins that are required on a daily basis. The objective of this scheme is the normalization of blood glucose.

Any sudden change in blood glucose (high or low) can cause serious illness or complications in people with diabetes.

Best diet menu for type 1 diabetes is low in fat and salt, low cholesterol, low sugar diet flour. This diet menu usually includes complex carbohydrates in the likes of pasta, cereals and whole grain bread. This includes fruits and vegetables too.

This diet plan will not only help normalize blood sugar in the blood, but as well as blood pressure and cholesterol. As for the parts of what a diabetic eats is important to keep your weight and blood sugar.

Here are some tips to consider in menu type 1 diabetes diet Good

• You can take at least two or three times a day from dairy products such as low - skimmed milk
• You can eat fish up to 3-4 times a week. Fish are good for diabetics because they have omega-3 fatty acids
• Eat fresh fruit every day
• Eat starchy vegetables as often as possible.
• Eating grains or foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates
• Eat salads that are made up of fat and green - Free salsa
• You can add lean meat, fat - free cheese, eggs and beans, as long as measured in number

 

[andiej]

Hi. My son is also T1 and held a little more weight than we would like to prior to diagnosis, then he too lost a lot of weight. For now follow your consultants advice. Children are growing and need carbs, to much of any food group can be bad for you everything in moderation. My son eats a balanced diet which is the recommended advice for all people especially children...this includes carbs. He does not eat low carbs and has an excellent hba1c of 6.2. Also he has remained at a very healthy weight. Good luck the early days are a huge learning curve but you will get there. Good luck x