My daughter is seven years old. We are having a hard time getting her glucose reading under control. Most of quick foods that can be given to her for snacks contain carbohydrates. I’m searching for some nutritional information for children with diabetes.

Although carbohydrates affect the blood glucose the most, it is important for the body to have them — especially growing children. According to the nutrition guidelines, approximately 50-60% of calories should come from carbohydrates. Control of blood sugars is often a frustrating process, especially with growing children and can be a result of more than what your daughter is eating.

Hopefully, you have visited with a knowledgeable dietitian who has helped develop a meal plan with a consistent amount of carbohydrate indicated for each meal and snack. The insulin can then be adjusted to fit the meal plan and your daughter’s energy needs for normal growth and development.

Rather than looking for non-carbohydrate snacks, you might look for snacks with more fiber and possibly a little less fat. Fat will sometimes delay the absorption of glucose into the blood stream until the insulin has peaked and is no longer available to cover the glucose being released. Also, in children, blood glucoses will vary during periods of growth and stress. None of this makes controlling blood sugars very easy, but a good balanced diet including carbohydrate will help.

JM