Hi everyone, I'm new to this thread, and I'm really glad I found it. My 10 yr old son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes last year. He is otherwise fit. Folks, you just won't believe (or maybe you would believe) the recommendations we have received from the Canadian Diabetes Association via the local "nutritionist." Their food recommendations had him eating over 300 grams of carbs per day! Insane!!!! I've confronted them over and over again and said that it's way too many carbs (actually, just way too much food) and have cut back, cut back, cut back. Consequentially my son eats more healthy foods, a greater variety of foods, and requires less insulin. I'm a rebel, I guess.
I have NO SUPPORT from the "authority" when it comes to a LC lifestyle for my son. My sister in law is a nutritionist, with a type 1 diabetic brother, and she still praises the high carb low fat diet. I understand that my son will be insulin dependent for the rest of his life, but I do not accept that he has to eat carbohydrate crap ALL DAY LONG (the nutritionist says he has to eat multiple snacks all day long to keep his blood sugars in range...I say they would stay in range if he stayed away from carbs!) They actually showed me products I could buy in the store that are "convenient sources of carbs for snacks." It was crap! Cookies, crackers, fruit bars, granola bars, etc., etc. They said that this was the food "kids would eat" and is the easiest way to do things. OH MY GOD. I told the nutritionist that none of these things were food! I'm almost incoherent with rage and dismay.
Like I said, we're on our own. We are adjusting our son's food and experimenting with his insulin doses, and monitoring, monitoring, monitoring his blood glucose to make sure he stays in range. All of the evidence so far points towards the success of low carbing. Can you imagine how I feel, EXPERIMENTING with my own child b/c the official voice is insane?
Does anyone else here have a type 1 diabetic child, or is type 1 themselves? I could sure use some words of support or advice. Thanks in advance!