[kas77]

Ifyour kids are not already diabetic, and you have a family history, do you find that it affects how you raise your children as opposed to say, how you were raised?

I often say that my parents raised me on candy bars and coca cola. I was never taught how to eat nutritiously and was never made to drink water. Now, as an adult I have found it very difficult to change my eating habits (especially the water part, yuk!), but I am doing it and i have chosen to raise my children with diabetes in mind.

I am hoping that by raising my children as though they were diabetic I can help delay them from getting it or at least make it less of a transition if they do get it.

Sometimes it hard for them though, mostly at school because their lunches are not the same as all their friends......they actually have fresh fruit and veggies! And guess what! Their friends always want to trade, but sometimes they get teased (my daughter won't take tomato juice to school anymore even though she loves it).

It can be very difficult to try to raise them healthy in a world full of pre-packaged lunches, but I feel like it is all worth it when my kids once in a while actually say " Thanks mom, for keeping us healthy."

 

[crricha13]

I wish I had taken lunch and eaten healthier, your kids will appreciate what you are doing in the long run but not right now. And tell them they don't want to create problems that will make diabetes hit them faster or harder or both!

 

[foxl]

My kids are adopted but all of ethnicities that are predisposed to T2.

I DO try to cut them back on carbs ... diet sodas, only, less cereal, more eggs ... though my husband tends to undermine some of it. I try to talk to them about carbs, make them aware of what they eat, and how I must eat. Oh, and they also get Vitamin D and Omega-3's!

Funny thing is they are all SKINNY, and were even when they ate carbier. All born outside the country, leading me to think there is something pre-natal that occurs.

 

[Shanny]

I wish I had taken lunch and eaten healthier, your kids will appreciate what you are doing in the long run but not right now. And tell them they don't want to create problems that will make diabetes hit them faster or harder or both!

Chris? I'm confused about what control you, as a type 1, could have exercised over the onset of your diabetes.

 

[crricha13]

im confused here maybe wrong grammar? "could have exercised over the onset of your diabetes. "

 

[jwags]

I have 5 kids, all grown now. They were all fed the same food growing up but as adults they are all totally different. One is a vegan, one is a healthy meat eater, but cooks everything from scratch. One is kind of in between and two are total junk food eaters. I really don't think the diet growing up has much to do with it. Once I was dx'd 4 years ago even though I never ate pop or candy but fruit and whole grains. I knew that would have to change. It really doesn't matter where the carbs come from, they still affect me whether it is from pure sugar or 2 slices of whole grain bread or a bowl of cereal. I get the motivation to eat right knowing what will happen to my body if I don't. As far as feeding your childen just feed them a well balanced diet, kids need more carbs than adults. If per chance they develop diabetes because they may have a genetic inclination then you can adjust their diet. If you are a type 1 nothing your parents fed or didn't feed you brought on your diabetes.

 

[Shanny]

im confused here maybe wrong grammar? "could have exercised over the onset of your diabetes. "

I was referring to the fact that type 1 is an autoimmune disease - your immune system began attacking your beta cells, which began to die, and your insulin output dropped. Eating better or exercising more has not much to do with the onset of type 1 diabetes, so I was just wondering why you thought eating better would have had any control over your own diabetes.

I wish I had taken lunch and eaten healthier

 

[foxl]

I was referring to the fact that type 1 is an autoimmune disease - your immune system began attacking your beta cells, which began to die, and your insulin output dropped. Eating better or exercising more has not much to do with the onset of type 1 diabetes, so I was just wondering why you thought eating better would have had any control over your own diabetes.

Well ... actually it MIGHT. MY GAD antibodies went down after low-carbing ... and there is currently a discussion on another forum about the fact that this is anticipated to happen ... in theory, then, eating too many carbs (maybe not even by current RDA standards) may perhaps accelerate autoimmune D?

 

[baredul]

My daughter actually loves my diabetic food. Finds it interesting and yummy. the little thief is actually always into my sugar free stuff. I think it's good for her. She is learning to like the alternative stuff early.

 

[arekwhite]

Thanks for your given information this is really good article...

 

[Adjitater]

I believe that you have to let kids be kids and goes with letting them eating them eat things I would not eat. I mentioned it once to my girls and they respoded by saying, "we don't have diabetes you do. You are the one that needs to watch what you eat not us." I got the point. Don't make your problems our problem.

 

[Dee_H]

I believe that you have to let kids be kids and goes with letting them eating them eat things I would not eat. I mentioned it once to my girls and they respoded by saying, "we don't have diabetes you do. You are the one that needs to watch what you eat not us." I got the point. Don't make your problems our problem.

As this may be true... following a Diabetic Diet is really healthy. I believe it is my job as a parent to provide healthy meals and snacks. There is never junk food in my house so my daughter is none the wiser about it now.

 

[Gizmo]

A few yrs. ago on a TV news broadcast, a doctor said if you want to avoid getting Diabetes, you shouldn't eat anything after 8 PM so your pancreas has a chance to rest. I don't know whether or not that is true, but if it is, it would probably only work for type 2 because as Shanny said...

type 1 is an autoimmune disease - your immune system began attacking your beta cells, which began to die, and your insulin output dropped. Eating better or exercising more has not much to do with the onset of type 1 diabetes

 

[Dee_H]

I have heard it is not so much when you eat..but what you eat.

 

[foxl]

I also give my kids artificially sweetened drinks, ONLY. Unfortunately, my oldest, 10, at least, prefers "real" Coke with HFCS. :-((( And her friend's mom gives it to her. And my husband still buys them ooky cupcakes and cookies.

Something I have done recently, and believe me for me this is radical: I had raised my kids vegetarian, as I have been ovo-lacto for 39 years, now (see where THAT'S gotten me ...). This summer I began encouraging them to try different meats. MY oldest says she will be an omnivore, but only at school (LOL) because she wants to eat the "real" chicken nuggets. GROSS. But I am going along, because I want them to think about things, and to diversify their diets. My son ate a chicken cutlet (not breaded!) with my husband one night, and loved it. That is far as we have gotten, though.

 

[Dee_H]

Regardless of whether or not I had Diabetes...I would still feed my child healthy. I believe you have to start good eating habits from the day you introduce solid foods....and hope that those habits carry on throughout their lives. My daughter has never had fast food, nothing but water and milk to drink, no ice cream or candy. I feed her lots of veggies and fruit, chicken, fish etc. She loves it all. You can't miss what you have never had. Not to say someone won't give it to her later on in life but right now I have "control" over what she eats. My friends say I'm mean. I didn't realize healthy eating for my child was mean!!! Our country has a HUGE problem with childhood obesity..which obesity in turn can lead to other health issues..including Diabetes. So I'm going to make damn sure I 'm going to do all I can so that my daughter doesn't have to deal with having these issues.