Carb Counting for Children With Diabetes

Carbohydrate (i.e., "carb") counting is a highly effective way to help children with diabetes manage their diets and subsequently control blood sugar levels. Because carbs are mostly responsible for the increase in blood sugar levels that occur after a meal, it is important for children to either match the carbs eaten with the insulin taken before meals or keep track of carbs throughout the day. Here are a few pointers for carb counting.

What is Carb Counting?

• Carb counting involves adding up the carbohydrates from the foods you eat and then spreading them over the course of the day to maintain more desirable blood sugar levels. To do this effectively, it is important for your diabetic child to understand which foods contain carbohydrates. Alhough most foods contain some, common foods that carry the highest amount of carbs include starchy foods (e.g., bread, bagles, pasta, rice, cereal, crackers, potatoes), sweets (e.g., cakes, cookies, pies, donuts), dairy (e.g., milk, yogurt) and fruits and vegetables (all carry some, but the more starchy ones include corn, carrots, apples, bananas).

Why Count Carbs?

• By knowing how many carbs your child eats during a meal, you can better predict how blood sugar levels will be effected afterward. If your child takes insulin before meals, it will help him match the carbs eaten with insulin intake. This is important for achieving the desired insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio, which can only be determined by your child's doctor. If your child does not take insulin, carb counting will help maintain healthy blood sugar levels throughout the day.

  Carb counting helps you work occasional sweets into your child's diet. If your child wants a donut at breakfast or a piece of cake at a party, you can factor this into the number of carbohydrates allowed at another meal. If he takes insulin, you can make adjustments to the insulin dosage. Always consult a doctor or registered dietitian regarding your child's individual insulin-to-carbohydrate ratios.

The Important Role of Menu Planning

• Smart food choices are not only critical for children with diabetes, but also important for the entire family. It will be easier for your child to manage his diabetes if the entire family is engaged in healthy eating. Create a meal-planning chart for your child. Several such charts are available to download on-line. A good one can be found at www.health.yahoo.com. These charts will help children learn what constitutes a standard portion of carbohydrates and also to count grams and/or servings of carbohydrates. Lastly, it promotes an overall balanced diet, which is essential for living healthy with diabetes.