DIABETES IN CHILDREN: THE BASIS OF NUTRITION

You should know something about the main food groups which form the basis of good nutrition. These are carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water. Most foods are mixtures of some or all of these ingredients.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates supply energy for body heat and activity and for growth. The commonest carbohydrates are sugars and starches and it is this group of foods which is quickly absorbed and turned by the digestive process to glucose in the bloodstream. It is therefore especially important to control the quantity of carbohydrates eaten by people with diabetes.

There are numbers of different kinds of carbohydrate. We are particularly concerned with those that are natural and unrefined: cereals, fruits and vegetables. They supply glucose for energy but they also have other important nutrients — vitamins, minerals and fibre. They tend to have a high proportion of starch or complex sugars and these may be more slowly absorbed than the simple sugars.

Differences in the types of carbohydrate are important in choosing food for good nutrition. The diet in diabetes depends on plenty of foods which contain starches and complex sugars because they are more gradually absorbed into the blood stream. The rate of absorption of carbohydrates into the blood is also influenced by food preparation (e.g. cooking a vegetable will increase the rate of absorption, as will juice extraction from fruit). Cane sugar, taken as part of a meal, is absorbed more slowly than when eaten alone as a sweet or in a sweet drink.

Milk contains carbohydrate as lactose (sugar of milk) and so this is also considered as an important source of carbohydrate in childhood.

Fats

Foods containing fats and oils are very concentrated forms of energy for heat and body activities. They can be used as fuel by the body, so these too may be controlled. Examples of foods with a high proportion of fat are butter, cream, margarine, oils and eggs. It is considered by most physicians that excessive quantities of fat in the diet are undesirable.

Proteins

Protein-containing foods are especially important for growth and maintenance of body tissues, so it is especially important that children have ample protein in their diet. Protein may also, to some extent, be used to supply energy by being converted in the body to glucose. Examples of foods with a high content of protein are meat, eggs, fish, cheese and milk.

Vitamins

Vitamins are needed for growth and the efficient running of the body and the maintenance of good health. If a good, well balanced diet is given, adequate vitamins will be provided in the natural foods, and extra vitamins should not be necessary. For example, fresh fruit and vegetables provide vitamin Ñ Milk, eggs, meat and wholegrain cereals provide the Â group of vitamins.

Minerals

Minerals such as calcium, iron and many others are also necessary for the efficient running of the body and for growth and maintenance of health. Most of the minerals needed are contained in eggs, milk, meat, fish and vegetables and fruit.

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