12 Healthy Snacks for Diabetic Children Posted on: September 18, 2020 Home Care Home Health Care Pediatric Care Diabetes is a prevalent health condition in the United States. By 2018, more than 10% of the population had been diagnosed with it — and it is estimated that more than seven million have not been diagnosed. When it comes to children, about 210,000 people under the age of 20 have been diagnosed. This includes both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The problem with these numbers is that diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Therefore, it’s crucial to be aware of signs of diabetes and the risk factors, so that you can be proactive in keeping your child as healthy as possible. What are the symptoms? What are the risk factors? And what are healthy snack ideas to keep children happy? Diabetes in Children To understand diabetes, it’s important to point out the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Doing so will give you a better idea of signs to look for and lifestyle options. Type 1 Diabetes Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that causes the pancreas to produce little to no insulin. This is the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. It occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy insulin-producing cells. The condition develops most often in children and teens. One of the differentiating factors of this type of diabetes from Type 2 diabetes is that the causes of Type 1 are unknown. Therefore, it’s not necessarily caused by a child’s sugar intake. Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes also occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin. One of the biggest problems with this condition is that it increases the risk of kidney damage, fatty liver disease, impaired vision, and heart disease. Its main contributing factors are unhealthy eating habits, being overweight, and leading a sedentary lifestyle. The risk is higher in children who store fat mainly in the abdominal area. Symptoms of Diabetes in Children The symptoms of diabetes depend on whether a child has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. While the symptoms of Type 1 diabetes can appear suddenly and are severe, in the early stages of Type 2 diabetes, children often do not have any symptoms. However, they will begin to experience them as the disease progresses. The most common signs are: Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms Frequent thirst Increased hunger Frequent urination Fatigue Irritability Blurred vision Bedwetting Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms Frequent thirst Frequent urination Fatigue Blurred vision Tingling sensation at the tips of the fingers and toes Darkened skin in the neck and armpits Complications of Diabetes in Children Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can have life-threatening complications. Specifically with Type 1 diabetes, a child could end up with hypoglycemia — which could in turn lead to kidney damage or heart attack. Meanwhile, children with Type 2 diabetes could develop high blood pressure, kidney damage, heart attack, or stroke. 12 Healthy Snacks for Diabetic Children Even though Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are caused by different reasons, eating a healthy diet ensures blood sugar levels remain at a healthy range — which is crucial to avoid complications. The good news is that there are plenty of healthy snacks that are appealing to children. These include: Frozen fruit bars Baby carrots with hummus Celery with peanut butter and raisins (ants on a log) Peanut butter sandwich on whole-wheat bread Graham crackers with peanut butter Popcorn (use herbs or cinnamon and monk fruit to top it instead of butter) Berry fruit skewers Hard-boiled eggs Avocado toast (there are plenty of kid-friendly recipes) Sliced apples with peanut butter Chia seed pudding Peanut butter and chocolate chip energy bites Contact Sonas for Home Health Care in Florida It can be hard to balance your time between work, home, and caring for a child. That’s why our team of skilled professionals at Sonas Home Health Care is here to help. We have been enforcing precautionary measures and following the Center For Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for COVID-19 to ensure the safety and health of our clients and employees. Our home health care services offer support in the comfort of your home. We refer loving and competent nurses to provide customized care for families — from a few hours a day to around-the-clock supervision. Contact us directly to speak with a home health care professional or request a free in-home assessment. Together we can determine the best plan of action to keep your loved ones happy and healthy. If you or a loved one are considering Pediatric Home Health Care Services in Florida, contact the caring staff at Sonas Home Health Care. Call today at (888) 592-5855. Jillian Miller BSN, RN Director of Nursing at Sonas Home Health Care This blog was reviewed by Jillian Miller BSN, RN — Director of Nursing for Sonas Home Health Care’s Tampa Bay market — for clinical accuracy. Jillian Miller has been a nurse for 16 years — working primarily in pediatrics. She believes the best part of working with the pediatric population is when you see smiles from clients when you first enter the room. She loves seeing the difference you can make in families’ lives while providing the best care possible for them. Enjoy this article? Share it! Conversations
