by Lola Valentine

Created on: June 02, 2008   Last Updated: June 13, 2008

My tip for you in raising diabetic children is switch to organic foods. With most prices rising, organic is now comparable to conventional foods. It's healthier, that's for sure.
Let me tell you a story. My sister's husband struggled with diabetes since he was a child. His glucose level was usually over three hundred, and that was a good day. He's gone in and out of hospitals because his sugar levels were dangerously unmanageable. Now that he's an adult, he has high cholesterol because of the diabetes.

My sister started slowly switching their eating habits she has two children and fears they will follow in their daddy's footsteps with health problems. It was gradual, but she started changing to organic and all natural foods. She started cooking dinners with wholesome ingredients instead of using boxed options. She even added a little cinnamon to her husband's toast, as cinnamon has healing powers when it comes to diabetes. Too much may harm your liver, so use a little. Even that small gesture started helping him. He went to his doctor's checkup and the doctor asked him if he switched blood with someone that's how well he is doing.
Another tip I have is do not, under any circumstances, use artificial sweeteners. They are poison and completely unnecessary for children.
If at a birthday party, try offering organic baked goods, like cake or cupcakes that you make from scratch using organic unrefined sugar which is a lot easier on the system to handle.
While researching the internet, I found a great website http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/ that offers information, support, and the chance to chat with other parents who have children with diabetes. Apparently, there are conferences scheduled from now until 2012. You also get a chance to ask your questions to a team of health care professionals.
I think the hard part of managing a child's sugar level is what goes on at school. School lunches are not geared toward children with diabetes, nor are snacks in the classroom. I believe as parents, we need to get involved and teach our schools how to serve healthier food options. I know when my kids went to preschool they were eating cupcakes every other day because it was always someone's birthday. I think that's inappropriate and needs to be stopped. Even if we feel like we're treating our kids, we're almost promoting childhood diabetes.

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