Medical Health Encyclopedia

Diabetes diet

Examples of foods high in monounsaturated fat include peanut or almond butter, almonds, walnuts, and other nuts. These can be substituted for carbohydrates, but portions should be small because these foods are high in calories.

In many cases, moderate weight loss and increased physical activity can control type 2 diabetes. Some people will need to take oral medications or insulin in addition to lifestyle changes.

Children with type 2 diabetes present special challenges. Meal plans should be recalculated often to account for the child's change in calorie requirements due to growth. Three smaller meals and 3 snacks are often required to meet calorie needs.

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Changes in eating habits and increased physical activity help reduce insulin resistance and improve blood sugar control. When at parties or during holidays, your child may still eat sugar-containing foods, but have fewer carbohydrates on that day. For example, if birthday cake, Halloween candy, or other sweets are eaten, the usual daily amount of potatoes, pasta, or rice should be eliminated. This substitution helps keep calories and carbohydrates in better balance.

For children with either type of diabetes, special occasions (like birthdays or Halloween) require additional planning because of the extra sweets.

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