Hi,
my son is type 1 diabetic and is 5. He is insulin dependant and has 4 injection a day. He can eat a normal healthy balanced diet, as is recommended for any child, plenty of fruit, veg, healthy snacks etc. He does need to eat starchy carbohydrates at each meal, ie cereal, bread, potato, pasta, rice, to ensure blood glucose levels remain stable - (the carbohydrate in those items gets released slowly over a long period of time which is preferred to refined sugars in cakes, sweets etc, which are quick release sugars and make blood sugars peak and then fall very quickly). He has insulin 4 times daily, after every meal and once before bed, so I need to know how much carbohydrate is in the food he eats so I can give the right dose of insulin. I also have to give him no added sugar squash. Milk and fruit juice (and any sweet treats) are only given as part of a meal as they will have the effect of raising blood sugar levels, and I can acommodate them by increasing the insulin dose I give. If they were given at any other time he would need another insulin jab.There is a wide variety of specialist diabetic foods available, but they are not recommended as they contain artificial sweetners, which if consumed in large, or not so large quantities in our case, may have a laxative effect. It is better to have the normal version of the biscuit etc, but include it with a meal where the insulin can be adjusted to cover it.
Some children do not have 4 injections a day, maybe just one or 2, and they may need a snack mid morning and/or mid afternoon. This would need to contain a certain amount of carbohydrate also, a digestive/rich tea biscuit would be fine, or toast, a banana and drink of milk, similarly if a childs blood sugars were to go 'low' the child would need a quick acting sugar, normally dextrose tablets or measured amount of lucozade, followed by one of the snacks mentioned.
Type 1 diabetics (am not sure about type 2) are also more likely to develop coeliac disease, and are screened for it every 12 months. Its gluten found in wheat that is the problem, so basically anything made with 'normal' flour- bread, cakes, biscuits, pastry, sauces if thickened with flour need to be avoided.
I hope this helps a little,and is not too confusing!If I can help anymore just let me know!
Rachel
P.S You could try googling JDRF uk or diabetes uk too.