Let Them Eat Cake!

On this Valentine’s Day, I’m going to say something perhaps a little controversial. …

Let them eat cake!

And I don’t mean some tasteless, sugar-free, poor excuse for a cake that tastes like cardboard!
I mean the real thing!

Ok, ok, I get it. It’s tricky. Sometimes overwhelming, especially in the beginning. But kids are kids. And type 1 is a lot to deal with.

They Already Feel Different

Believe it or not, they quite likely already feel different. Let’s not make our kids feel more isolated and different from everyone else.

They will encounter plenty of people who are well-meaning but completely ignorant about type 1 … their teachers, their classmates, their great-aunt Sue, even the next-door neighbor … who will make them feel ashamed of eating sugar.

Please don’t be one of them!

Yes, your child has an autoimmune disease that creates challenges. Yes, we don’t want our kids eating sugar all the time. But sugar didn’t cause their type 1, and it’s. just. sugar.

It’s about balance.

We should be encouraging our children to eat a variety of foods. Sweets can (and dare I say should) be part of a balanced diet. Everything in moderation.

As a caregiver, it is your job to learn how to dose for carbs, sweets included! Yes, it can be tricky in the beginning, but with some practice, you can do it!

Tips for Dosing for Treats

• Know your child’s insulin to carb ratio (as given by their doctor)
• Double check the total carb count on the snack (Google comes in very handy if you’re not sure)
• Reference this carb count list from Children with Diabetes for some common V Day treats
• Pre-bolus (i.e. dose) at least 15 minutes ahead of time (if their blood sugar is within normal range), because insulin takes 15 minutes to start working
• Add some protein before, during, or with the treat (protein will slow down the effect of the sugar on your child’s blood sugar)

Now, put those sugar-free candies away! (Chances are the artificial ingredients aren’t that healthy anyway!)

Our kids have so much to deal with. Let’s not add one more thing! Now, go enjoy something sweet with your kiddo!