Introduction
Juvenile diabetes is a chronic childhood autoimmune disorder generally understood as type 1 diabetes. This condition is characterized by the underproduction of insulin in the body, which is an integral hormone in controlling blood sugar levels. Nutrition is an essential aspect in the management of juvenile diabetes, considering that it aids in the effective control of blood sugar levels in the body (DiMeglio et al., 2018). The reason is that some foods, including processed foods, contain a high level of sugar and other non-nutritive components that increases the risk of diabetes type 1 condition (Cowie et al.,2018). Therefore, the nutritional benefits for patients with type 1 diabetes include whole grain carbohydrates, while the nutritional risks include the intake of processed foods which can be avoided through adherence to medical nutrition therapy and behavioral changes.
Description of Juvenile Diabetes and its Causes
Juvenile diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce sufficient insulin to regulate blood sugar. DiMeglio et al. (2018) explain that type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition due to the destruction of cells in the pancreas responsible for insulin production. In such a case, the pancreases produce little or no insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia. The condition also stems from genetic predisposition and environmental aspects such as poor nutrition (DiMeglio et al., 2018).
The majority of patients diagnosed diabetes have parents who battled the same condition in their lifetime. The reason is that genetic mutations contribute to diabetes, meaning that the heredity factor is a significant influence in type 1 diabetes. Lifestyle choices such as poor nutrition contribute significantly to type 1 diabetes, considering that sugars or fats in some foods alter the average balance of sugar in the blood (DiMeglio et al., 2018). All these aspects must be considered to ensure a balanced nutritional strategy that is inclusive and effective.
Nutritional Benefits for Juvenile Diabetes Patients
Proper nutrition is essential to managing juvenile diabetes since it ensures optimal sugar levels are sustained. According to Pancheva et al. (2021), nutrition alone can determine whether the condition stabilizes or the patient regresses. Examples of nutritious food alternatives for juvenile diabetes include fiber-rich foods such as legumes, vegetables, and fruits. High-fiber foods take time to digest, slowing down glucose absorption and preventing rapid spikes in blood sugar levels. Such foods ensure that regular blood sugar is sustained, considering that they improve glycemic control.
Lean protein sources are also integral nutritional considerations to ensure stable blood sugar levels. The reason is that foods including skinless poultry and fish provide satiety, a sense of fullness that prevents overeating, which significantly influences diabetes (Pancheva et al., 2021). In addition, patients should also consider natural fats from processed ones since they provide a steady energy source (DiMeglio et al., 2018). Incorporating healthy fats found in nuts, avocados, and olive oil ensures that blood sugar levels are controlled due to their low level of unsaturated fats, which increase blood sugar significantly upon digestion.
Carbohydrate management is another crucial goal in the management of juvenile diabetes. DiMeglio et al. (2018) explain that consuming complex body-building foods such as whole grains and legumes helps maintain stable blood sugar compared to refined carbohydrates. The reason is that whole grains have low cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, which results in normal insulin production and absorption (Pancheva et al., 2021). Therefore, patients should consider their calorie levels to sustain optimal insulin levels.
Nutritional Risks
There are environmental factors that hinder good nutritional habits leading to juvenile diabetes. One environmental factor is mental health conditions such as bulimia nervosa, which impacts healthy eating habits negatively. Bulimia nervosa is a mental illness characterized by binge eating and purging behaviors. Such eating habits result in a continuous shift of blood sugar levels which can result in Juvenile diabetes (Cowie et al.,2018).
Overfeeding is also a health risk habit that causes high blood sugar levels due to the excessive calories in the system. In addition, unregulated interment fasting can cause the level of blood sugars to drop significantly, resulting in type 1 diabetes (Cowie et al.,2018). All these eating habits affect balanced insulin production, resulting in complications in the production and absorption of insulin.
Restrictive diets resulting from sensory deficits or individual preferences can result in diabetes 1. The reason is that diets that exclude some foods, including vitamins and minerals, affect balanced insulin production due to nutrient deficiency (Cowie et al.,2018). The reason is that a poor balance diet leads to malnutrition which is a significant contributor to hypoglycemia due to low production of sugar levels absorbed in the bloodstream (Cowie et al.,2018). Therefore, a balanced diet encompassing all the nutrient compositions is integral in ensuring that patients living with diabetes manage their insulin production effectively.
Recommended Nutrition
Patients who have type 1 diabetes require an inclusive nutritional balance to ensure that the condition is effectively managed. Pancheva et al. (2021) explain that medical nutrition therapy is an evidence-based approach effective in managing juvenile diabetes. The therapy focuses on three integral aspects, including enabling the patient to attain personalized glycemic control and body weight to prevent complications associated with type 1 diabetes.
The therapy helps educate the patient on healthy eating habits and balance. In addition, the strategy promotes health literacy and numeracy to encourage the individual to make better food-related decisions without compromising their cultural, religious, or personal preferences (Cowie et al.,2018). By focusing on triggers to poor nutrition, the therapy helps emphasize portion control, the importance of whole grain and fiber-rich foods, and physical activity, which helps maintain stable blood sugar levels.
Specific lifestyle changes can also promote effective management of blood sugar levels resulting in general well-being. Short spacing between meals is one strategy that helps individuals who have diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. The reason is that long spacing between meals results in overeating, which inconsistently spikes blood sugar levels (Cowie et al.,2018).
Moreover, hunger results in a significant drop in sugar levels, affecting the body’s average balance of blood sugar. In addition, the consumption of specific foods, such as energy drinks, results in a sudden increase in blood sugar, which can lead to progressive diabetes (Pancheva et al., 2021). Therefore, individuals with juvenile diabetes should not have long space between meals, ensure they maximize whole grains, avoid foods and drinks that result in a sudden increase in blood sugar, and behaviors such as fasting, which results in a drop in sugar levels.
Conclusion
Adequate nutrition is among the evidence-based management of type 1 diabetes. The reason is that different foods have specific consequences on the sustainability of blood sugar levels depending on calories, digestibility, and nutritional content. Foods rich in processed fats and sugars are high-risk diets that should be avoided for patients with juvenile diabetes. On the other hand, healthy foods such as whole grains, fiber-rich foods, and fruits are recommended as the best alternative when dealing with diabetes. Other scientific alternatives include medical nutrition therapy, timed spacing between meals, and behavioral adjustments, such as avoiding prolonged fasting, which can help patients maintain a good balance in their nutrition.
References
Cowie, C. C., Casagrande, S. S., Menke, A., Cissell, M. A., Eberhardt, M. S., Meigs, J. B., Gregg, E. W., Knowler, W. C., Barrett-Connor, E., Becker, D. J., Brancati, F. L., Boyko, E. J., Herman, W. H., Howard, B. V., Narayan, K. M. V., Rewers, M., & Fradkin, J. E. (2018). Risk factors for type 1 diabetes. In M, Rewers et al. (Eds.), Diabetes in America. (3rd ed, pp 1–29). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
DiMeglio, L. A., Evans-Molina, C., & Oram, R. A. (2018). Type 1 diabetes. The Lancet, 391(10138), 2449-2462. Web.
Pancheva, R., Zhelyazkova, D., Ahmed, F., Gillon-Keren, M., Usheva, N., Bocheva, Y., & Iotova, V. (2021). Dietary intake and adherence to the recommendations for healthy eating in patients with type 1 diabetes: A narrative review. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8. Web.
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