Type 1 kids need more vegetables 11 December 2019 Type 1 kids need more vegetables according to research. Researchers at the John Hunter Children’s Hospital in Newcastle have found that young children are eating too many snacks and not enough vegetables. In a report in The Limbic, a study of 3-day food diaries from 24 children found the macronutrient composition of their diet – 48% carbohydrate, 16% protein and 33% fat – was within recommended ranges. However, their saturated fat at 15% of daily energy intake exceeded the ISPAD (International Society for Paediatric ad Adolescent Diabetes) recommendation of <10%. It was largely coming from snacks and processed meats such as sausages and bacon. Importantly, no child consumed the recommended 2.5 serves of vegetables per day. Some children ate no vegetables at all. “The most commonly eaten foods across the group were apple, banana, strawberries, cheese, full-cream milk, fruit yoghurt, white bread, sweet biscuits and ice cream,” the study authors said. HbA1c was found to be higher in children who ate in a grazing pattern than the majority who ate three main meals and one or two snacks per day. Most children were receiving pre-prandial insulin either directly before or 15 minutes before their meals. Co-author of the study and dietician Dr Carmel Smart said the children were not doing any worse when it came to their nutrition than the general population. “People are now used to taking foods like cherry tomatoes to work. But even two years ago, no one was eating adequate serves of vegetables as adults. The recommended serves of vegetables are high for many people.” However, the findings reinforced the importance of routines around meals for children with diabetes to allow for pre-prandial administration of insulin and optimal glycaemic control. Dr Smart said some parents apparently thought it was impossible to restrict children’s eating to meal times – exposing their children with diabetes to continual post-prandial highs. “People do it [routines] in childcare but parents often give the message to toddlers that they can eat as much as they want, whenever they want.” She said healthy foods like vegetables should be offered earlier in the day and not left until the evening meal when children and parents were tired. “What was interesting was it [their diet] wasn’t any different from the dietary habits of the general population. People give kids fruit because they know they are going to eat it but they struggle to serve veggies across the board.” She said their results were consistent with those of other similar studies. The findings are published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care.
Media releases 15 May 2024 Diabetes Australia welcomes cost relief in 2024-25 Federal Budget Diabetes Australia welcomes health measures providing cost of living relief in this year's Federal Budget. DA eagerly awaits the outcomes of the current Senate Inquiry into Diabetes. Continue Reading
News 14 May 2024 New PBS listing for treatment of itch associated with chronic kidney disease A new medication has been added to the PBS for people undergoing dialysis and experiencing chronic kidney disease itch. Continue Reading
Blog 13 May 2024 Calls for action on kidney disease screening Dianne Moidin knows better than most about the courage people show when they live with chronic kidney disease. Dianne runs... Continue Reading