Introduction
Diabetes in children is a serious concern nowadays. It can have a dangerous impact on their health and continue to haunt them forever causing multiple health complications. If left unchecked, diabetes can cause a host of serious health problems. It is therefore highly important for parents to take cognizance of this serious disease and take steps to prevent such a dangerous disease in their children. It is also important to be aware of the early signs and symptoms of diabetes in children and to take necessary measures that help in the abatement of the disease. Diet plays an important role in the prevention of diabetes in children.
You might try encouraging your child from an early age to adopt healthy habits like eating healthy foods and avoiding fried foods like fries or chips.
About 98,000 kids have been identified as having type 1 diabetes mellitus in India, according to research. A chronic illness known as paediatric diabetes is defined by the body’s inability to produce insulin as a result of the autoimmune death of beta cells that make insulin.
Your child doesn’t need to consume any special foods, but as a mother, you can prepare delicious meals for your child using widely available products that can prevent diabetes. In this blog post, we will discuss a few food tips that can go a long way in the prevention of diabetes in children.
Quick food tips to avoid diabetes in children
Extra fruit and vegetables
Eating fruits and vegetables is really healthy, as we all know. Always make an effort to include fruits and vegetables in their meals, or if your kids are hungry in between meals, offer them fruit as a snack. By doing so they may be able to get the vitamins, minerals, and fibre their body needs each day to support their general health.
If you are thinking about whether fruits should be avoided because they contain sugar, then No, is the answer. Everyone benefits from whole fruit, and people with diabetes are no exception. Although sugar is present in fruits, it is natural sugar. The added sugar, also known as free sugar found in foods like chocolate, cookies, and cakes, differs from this.
Avoid sugary drinks
Sugary drinks should be avoided, at all costs. Today’s market offers a variety of drinks that your children might be attracted to; choose water instead. Few sugar substitutes are present in many varieties of sparkling water. Try infusing water with fresh fruits and herbs to flavour it without adding extra sugar or calories for your kids. Crystal-light, sugar-free lemonades, or unsweetened natural juices can be given occasionally.
Healthy meal
Breakfast options for your children can include besan cheela, or bread with cottage cheese and vegetables. Thus, the carbohydrate-to-protein ratio is favourable. Poha is also a good option, but make sure you add lots of vegetables, including beans and carrots.
For lunch, You can prepare a nutritious lunch with a quarter-plate salad, a bowl of raita, your choice of vegetables, such as bhindi (okra), and one bowl of dal with rice.
Not that kids with diabetes can’t eat at a restaurant. To prevent overindulgence, portion sizes should be considered when eating outside.
Final thoughts
The adjustment to change could take some time. However, starting now will allow your child to follow healthy eating habits in the future as well. Also, you will be seeing your child walking on a healthy good life path.
For children’s healthy nutrition, specialists advise the traditional home-cooked thali, which contains a balanced mixture of non-starchy veggies, protein, and complex carbohydrates. You don’t need to hunt down exotic vegetables for your child. It is the finest way mothers can give their children, diabetic or not, a nutritious and healthy diet.
It is important that parents monitor their child’s blood sugar levels regularly and seek medical support if they suspect their child has diabetes. With early diagnosis and treatment, diabetes can be managed and its complications can be prevented. If you think your child has symptoms of diabetes, please contact your doctor.
If your child is diabetic, then their treatment plan must also take into account the psycho-social aspects of living with diabetes, such as monitoring mental and emotional well-being. Children with long-term health problems may find it difficult to make friends, feel good about themselves, and feel included and supported at home and school.
