Type 2 Diabetes In Children - General Guidelines On Nutritional Management

Key points on nutritional management of type 2 diabetes

• a healthy diet gives your child the best building blocks to grow, develop and feel well
• good diabetes management is about a balance between healthy eating, physical activity and diabetes medicine
• your child's diabetes team can give you advice that's right for your child

General guidelines on the nutritional management of type 2 diabetes

These nutrition recommendations are for children and young people with type 2 diabetes. They are based on healthy eating principles suitable for all children, young people and their whānau.

There are some special considerations needed around food for children and young people with type 2 diabetes, depending on their medicines. Considerations include:

• meal and snack times
• food choices
• portion sizes

Your dietitian can give you more details and advice that's right for your child or young person.

Meals

Enjoy 3 meals each day, spread evenly across the day.

Eat together as a family as often as possible.

Make meals ‘distraction free’ by taking a break from devices and other activities at mealtimes. Try to reduce the use of electronic media in the evening

Healthy foods from the 4 main food groups

Choose a variety of healthy foods from the 4 main food groups for growth and development. These food groups are:

• fruits and vegetables
• dairy products
• whole grain breads and cereals
• lean meats and alternatives (such as legumes)

Enjoy 2 servings of fruit and at least 5 servings of vegetables each day.

Aim to include some high-fibre (wholegrain) carbohydrate foods at each meal. These foods have a low glycaemic index (GI) and the carbohydrate is digested slowly which is good for blood glucose control.

Limit intake of high fat (especially saturated fat) food

Choose low or reduced-fat dairy products and cheeses.

Choose lean cuts of meat (removing visible fat from meat and skin from chicken and poultry).

Limit high-fat snacks and takeaways, and processed meat.

Note: A low fat diet is not recommended for children under the age of 2 years.

Eat healthy snacks

Your child can eat a small healthy carbohydrate-based snack in between meals.

Everyday foods and sometimes foods (for special occasions)

Remember 'treats' are not the same as 'snacks'.

Keep foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt for special occasions only. It’s best not to offer these foods as regular snacks. Eating these 'treat' foods regularly may lead to weight gain and increased blood sugar levels etc. Examples of 'treat' foods you might offer on special occasions include potato chips, corn snacks, muesli bars, chocolate, sweets, cakes, sweet biscuits, pies and pastries.

Avoid high sugar drinks such as cordial, powdered drinks, soft drinks and fruit juice (unless using to treat hypoglycaemia).

What's the treatment for my child with type 2 diabetes?

Stabilise blood glucose

The treatment goal for type 2 diabetes is to stabilise blood glucose as much as possible.

Consider food choices

Once your child or young person achieves target blood glucose levels, you may also need to consider food choices that can help to:

• lower blood pressure
• reduce high blood lipids (or cholesterol levels) if needed

Achieve and maintain a healthy weight

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is an important part of diabetes management. It helps prevent health problems later in life.

Make healthy lifestyle changes

It is very important to involve all the family and whānau in supporting your child or young person to make healthy lifestyle changes.

They can do this by:

• eating a healthy diet centred on whole foods and less processed foods where possible
• being active and doing regular physical activities
• continuing to live a healthy lifestyle throughout their teens and into adulthood

The main parts of good diabetes management

Good diabetes management is about a balance between:

1. Healthy eating
2. Physical activity
3. Diabetes medicine

Sleep

Getting plenty of sleep helps with weight management, feeling good and learning.

Aim for consistent bed and wake-up times and make sure children and young people get enough good quality sleep.

Physical activity

All young people should aim to get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity every day. This should include muscle-strengthening exercises 3 days a week.

See the KidsHealth page on encouraging children and young people with diabetes to be active

If your child is using insulin, they may need to do the following around activity, to avoid hypoglycaemia:

• have extra carbohydrate
• adjust insulin dosing

Your diabetes team will discuss this with you.

Aim to limit recreational screen time to a maximum of 2 hours a day. Avoid things that involve sitting for long periods of time.

Please talk with your diabetes team about specific recommendation for your child.

Resources on physical wellbeing for children

Tinana ora mо̄ ngā tamariki | Physical wellbeing for children resource

Be smarter tool

See more KidsHealth content on diabetes

Check out KidsHealth's section on diabetes