Remembering Juvenile Diabetics On World Diabetes Day, 14th November 2016

Despite medical advancement and years of research by healthcare professionals and pharmaceutical companies, there has been no breakthrough in finding a cure for Diabetes. Thankfully, with knowledge about the disease increasing, better forms of treatment and hopefully a cure are on their way.

Parents are often at their wits' end while trying to meet the nutritional needs of their diabetic child- the childs diet needs a little more care and planning. The adjustment can be difficult for the child and for the rest of the family, whose unconditional love and support are crucial at all times.

A little extra effort will go a long way in helping a diabetic child live a normal life. Here is how :-

• Sit with the childs diabetologist and understand how many calories are being prescribed.
• Get help from a nutritionist to convert the prescribed number of calories into a daily meal plan.
• Draw up a shopping list of a wide variety of foods from the different food groups.
• Encourage the child to make healthy food choices.
• Always keep plenty of healthy snack options readily available.
• Wholesome meals should be cooked for, and eaten by, all members of the family to encourage the diabetic child in his/her blood glucose battle.
• Choose grilled, low-fat options when eating out
• Encourage the child to increase his duration of exercise the day he wants to indulge in a small portion of dessert.
• When the child is invited to a birthday party, call the parent hosting the party to find out the menu and also to let her/him know that your child is diabetic and should not be forced to overeat.
• Pack a healthy snack- the host will not mind.
• Teach your child to recognize the symptoms of hypoglycemia as well as hyperglycemia.
• An ID card that reads DIABETIC on one side and lists what to do in an emergency ( like contact numbers, what to give the child etc) on the other side, should be with the child at all times.

For all those lil JD angels I met this week...this post is for you :-)

Stay blessed with good health .…always !!!

Warm regards,

Charmaine D’Souza