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Can anyone help over carbs?

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sasha1

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Parent of person with diabetes
Hi all

Was just wondering if anyone knew how much carbs..roughly...a 14 yr old growing boy would need?
Nathan is type 1, we don't carb count...he totally refuses to even try.
However although at the moment his blood/insulin doses are in range.. last hb 6.8 (feb09). He does carry a little extra weight, and very sensitive about it.. his consultant has an issue with it..thats made perfectly clear every time we go for the appointment.
I as his mam are doing everything possible to try and keep his weight down, using smaller plates, piling the veg on etc. He does'nt eat unhealthy and everything is prepared form scratch. He a growing lad and is hungry all the time, to which I make him eat fruit to satisfy.
Obviously the more insulin he requires, the hungrier he feels. Just thought if i could lower his carbs a little... not restrict in anyway..his insulin dose could be altered slightly. He would'nt feel to hungry, still have his healthy diet and maybe lose a little weight.
Last time I went to the hospital, I asked the dietician for this and am still waiting for her to get back to me.
Thanks all
Heidi
🙂
 
It depends on the size and height of this boy but 6 to 10 portions per day
 
Hi Steff

Thanks hun, how many grammes would that work out at roughly... Being a right dim wit this morning..

Heidi🙂
 
err sorry thats as far as my knowledge goes hun lol x
someone will know im sure
 
I have teenage boys who think it is not cool to diet or count carbs. It is difficult.

Bread in our house is an issue, if you can get hold of things like high fibre white bread (I think there are makes called Best of Both and 50/50) that will help to reduce carbs as will things like whole meal pasta and whole grain rice. You're right to encourage plenty of fruit and vege too.

Sorry this is a bit general, I'm sure some of the other mums whose children are diabetic will give you more advice. The dietician will probably also be able to give you more specific advice.

Also might pay you to ask for a DAFNE course geared towards carers, and maybe encourage Nathan to make friends if possible with other diabetic teenagers?
 
as steff and caroline has already said huni, just stick to complex carbs as they last longer so feelings of hunger will not be there all so often. also try and get him to join a club doing activities. i know there are quite a few outdoors activity clubs in cumbria as the keeping moving bit will reduce the weight he hates having and also give him a huge confidence boost. hoope this helps 🙂

mike
 
Thanks Caroline
Bread one of the issues here to... any type etc..he loves it. I do usually go for the wholemeal/granary. Pasta was always one thing he would'nt touch.. but now he loves it..will deff try the wholemeal one... rice he will eat.
Its just a complete nightmare at the moment..Hormones etc.
I have tried to get him to come on line and interact with more diabetic teenagers...But he still having issues accepting his diabetes and thinks of his self as not normal..thought he was starting to accept it, now back to square one.

Heidi
🙂
 
Teenagers are a night mare at the best of times, let alone one with diabetes or anything else.

Just an after thought, what kind of meat does Nathan like? If it looks like being healthy, he wont see it as cool. Although I am vegetarian, all the males in my house eat meat. Things like bugers I try to grill where I can, it doesn't avoid all the fat, but the fat is reduced. I try to go for the options that can be baked or grilled rtaher than fired.

If there is a favourite actor/action hero/sporting personality, tell nathan they like certain foods cooked ina certain way. It works for a while and by the time it's rumbled he might just decide he realy likes that kind of food done that way.
 
Hiya
Thanks for all your help and pointers I/Nathan really appreciate it🙂

He loves chicken, fish and pork/bacon.... red meat/burgers in moderation.. usually once a fortnight. Grill, poach or bake/roast rather than fry.

Really need to get him to consider going back to rugby and wall climbing..he lost interest and confidence after being diagnosed feb07... Although he enjoy's a spot of footie.

Heidi
🙂
 
if he is big into wall clibing then id get him back into it pronto!!!!!!

i love doing loads of stuff like that. biggest rush for me is to do a base jump 🙂 i even bought my own rig so i could go and just set it up and jump off anything hehehehe :D
 
mikep1979 said:
if he is big into wall clibing then id get him back into it pronto!!!!!!

i love doing loads of stuff like that. biggest rush for me is to do a base jump 🙂 i even bought my own rig so i could go and just set it up and jump off anything hehehehe
Click to expand...

Being a typical lad...Nath...caused a near riot at school...Free Running...:D
Needless to say I had rather a angry Headteacher on the phone😱.....He did'nt see the funny side of it.
Climbing he loves it and has done since he could walk..no fear...
Going to have a chat to him later about it

Heidi
🙂
 
sasha1 said:
Being a typical lad...Nath...caused a near riot at school...Free Running...:D
Needless to say I had rather a angry Headteacher on the phone😱.....He did'nt see the funny side of it.
Climbing he loves it and has done since he could walk..no fear...
Going to have a chat to him later about it

Heidi
🙂
Click to expand...

lol i tried free running but ended up in a&e with a smashed collar bone. ended up taking 3 weeks off work before i could even type!!!! lol

climbing is such a great way to stay fit and the focus side of things is great to releave stress to.
 
mikep1979 said:
lol i tried free running but ended up in a&e with a smashed collar bone. ended up taking 3 weeks off work before i could even type!!!! lol

climbing is such a great way to stay fit and the focus side of things is great to releave stress to.
Click to expand...

Ouch....I cracked mine years ago falling off a bed...It's agony
Was'nt keen on the free running...... mam's know best
Climbing is the way forward
Thanks hun
Heidi
🙂
 
sasha1 said:
Ouch....I cracked mine years ago falling off a bed...It's agony
Was'nt keen on the free running...... mam's know best
Climbing is the way forward
Thanks hun
Heidi
🙂
Click to expand...

lol yup they do!!!!!!

i do find i feel at my least stressed when climbing/running/free falling/ base jumping :D
 
Hi Heidi , well you know i dont do carbs , but i will help you anyway i can 🙂
 
Sasha - if Nathan is into climbing, walls or rock, then he might like to look at MAD (Mountains for Active Diabetics), an informal internal group of mountain activity enthusiasts with diabetes http://www.diabetic.friendsinhighplaces.org/
 
I can't give you any advice I'm afraid, only that it must vary enormously at that age. When I was 14 I could quite literally eat the equivalent of 4 boys' food at lunchtime. The school dinners were given out in trays of 8 servings to a table and a friend and I could eat a whole tray between us. I shot up in height, but remained very skinny, and still am pretty slim.

Diabetes affects people so differently - one person may need fewer or more carbs, others may need more or less insulin. Interestingly, when I broke my leg my carb consumption rocketed - must have been over 6,000 calories a day, in cakes, biscuits, bread, sweet drinks etc. I didn't put on weight, I obviously just needed the extra whilst I was healing - it would have been a nightmare if I'd been diabetic at the time, so he should try his best not to break any major bones!😱 Make sure he's roped up when out climbing!
 
Thanks Northerner,

Just a complete nightmare at the moment...carb/insulin rate is an individual thing...its just so difficult to find the right balance between the two and other factors thrown in for good measure.
Oh he always harnessed up, its a massive purpose built wall for climbing and then absailing down....think thats the term used.

How are you doing, I believe its your 1yr anniversary today, bet looking back your amazed at you've done

Heidi
🙂
 
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