Morning Meals

[pmays]

Hi,

Our son (6 years old) has Juvy Diabetes.  We found out about 5 months ago and have battled the food intake, calculations, etc.  The doctors say we have done an amazing job keeping him under control...(Thanksgiving was wild though).

Anyway, our son does not like to eat breakfast when he gets up.  We have pretty much forced him to eat something because when he doesn't eat he becomes very whinny, emotional, and causes a disruption in class as the teacher has to stop what she'sdoing to check sugar levels, etc.

Our doctor says to let him eat what he will and leave it alone.  That's all fine and good, however, he doesn't get the midday phone call from the school and also doesn't have to contend with the emotions from our son when his sugar drops.  Like I said before, when he starts down this path it seems to get worse as the days go by.  

When we have forced him to eat something he immediatly becomes a happier child after the food kicks in and is more astute and a happy child at school.

My question is this, should we be forcing him to eat something for his carbs or should we just let it be what it will be.

Thanks for your response.

Phil

[JDRF-VOL-RL]

Hello, Phil.  I'm not a medical professional, just the parent of a kid with diabetes.  It's rather hard to use logic and reason on a 6 year old, isn't it.  You don't mention the insulin therapy your son uses (such as Lantus/Novolog or using the pump), so it's kind of hard to give a lot of detail.  From the insulin perspective, skipping a meal isn't a bad thing, but it's not good, either.  As long as the basal rate is correct (and this gets into the Lantus/pump issue), then not bolusing for a meal shouldn't make a difference.  I know the research says that to start the day with a healthy breakfast gets things going better, as you note.

Have you considered a reward or incentive for eating breakfast?  Kind of counter-intuitive, I know, but if he can get into a pattern of eating breakfast, and then you can show him how much better he does, that might help.  You could also have it come from him.  After he has breakfast and perks up, have him draw of picture of how he's feeling.  Have him do the same on a day when he doesn't eat.  Hopefully one is a happy picture and the other is a grumpy one.  That should help him understand the difference from his own viewpoint.

[KevinHarney]

Here are the main problems.

First, being 6 he has no idea that his mood swings are related to food and how that effects his behavior.

Second, all of us young and old ( I am 43) but especially the young NEED to take in carbs to have the energy that we need to carry on for the day.

I was never one to want to eat breakfast in the mornings as well but once I started I never went back.

I will let you draw your own conclusions as a parent but I would say forcing it would have dramatic improvements in behavior and in energy and that would be a preferred trade off to a small episode in the morning.  And I believe that after a while it will become a very good habit and the episodes will fade and go away.

Sometimes being a parents means forcing kids to do the right thing.

Hope that helps some ...

Kevin

[pmays]

Thanks for your reply.  I feel we are doing the right thing, but you never know. I was hoping others with like experiances could help.  

Don't get me wrong.  I think he has had excellent care and the Doctor's have been great.  However, if we left it up to the child on what he would eat, he would just eat snacks all day and no substance.

[pmays]

Nice prospective.  I may try that as well.  Last night at dinner he drew a frowny face, on his own.  I asked him who it was and he said himself.Any way, he takes the nova pen at night 5 units and lantus during the day at 1 unit per 20 carbs plus BS count.He really does not complain about the shots anymore.  He is starting to say he doesn't want the diabetes anymore.  I guess this is a stage.Anyway, overall he is doing great.  It's just when he does not eat breakfast it set the tone for the rest of the day which builds on itself the more days that go by.