by Tonya L. Howe

Created on: June 01, 2008   Last Updated: June 13, 2008

You can't be with your child around the clock, and let's face it; kids will be kids and sneak things, so it is vital that your child have a good education about diabetes. It will be easier for him as an adult if you teach him now, while he is young.

Having diabetes will cause him to be better educated and make better food choices than the average child. There are a lot of fun ways to help your child learn about and control his diabetes.

The American Diabetic Association offers tips for parents educating their children about diabetes:

http://www.diabetes.org/for-parents-and-kid s.jsp

Another interesting link introduces the "Arthur Dealing with Diabetes Lesson Plan"

http://www.diabetes.org/for-parents-and-kids/ar thur.jsp

Planet D is a website specifically for children with diabetes. In addition to diabetes education and management tools it connects them to other kids with diabetes.

http://tracker.diabetes.org/index.php

Instil ling healthy eating habits in children at a young age can only help their future, preventing the battle of the bulge and other health problems. It's doubly important in the case of parents of diabetics.

Send healthy snacks and written instructions when your child is away from home, however, your child being educated and understanding the importance of eating right is key.

Make sure your child knows what to do in case of his sugar being too high or low.

Find one sport or active hobby your child enjoys as exercise is important in the management of diabetes.

These suggestions are from diabetics, not professionals:

"If the child is old enough to understand the child needs to know why he/she cannot have fast food or soda pop.

The child needs to know how to check the label. If it says, High Fructose Corn Syrup' It blocks your ability to tell when you are full.

Partially or fully hydrogenated oil' plugs your cells up so you can't accept your own insulin.

Carbohydrates' are the same as sugar.

Kids should use stevia instead of sugar to satisfy their sweet tooth safely. It is all natural and safe. Stevia has no glycemic index so it doesn't affect the insulin in any way." Steven Caswell

"Test the sugar levels often. Get started on pump-therapy as soon as possible. Have a thorough eye exam by an OPHTHALMOLOGIST at least yearly if not twice each year."
- Douglas Knoerr

More Information About:

High Fructose Corn Syrup:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fructose_cor n_syrup

Partially or fully hydrogenated oil:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans_fat

Carbohydra tes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbohydrate

The difference between Good and Bad Carbs:

http://body.aol.com/diet/basics/carbohydrate-b asics?sem=1&ncid=AOLHTH00170000000021

Stevia:

http://e n.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia

http://www.stevia.net/

Pum p-therapy for children:

http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/pumps/

O phthalmologists:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophthal mology

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