Conference moira::parenting

    Nancy:
    
    My brother was diagnosed with Juvenille Diabetes when he was ten,
    and has been insulin dependant ever since. (He is now 20)
    
    What I would suggest for your friend to do it contact Joslin 
    Diabetes Center, in Boston.  They have *lots* of information 
    there, because each individual is different, they have different
    amounts of calories that they are allowed each day.  I'm sure 
    they will mail off anything that she needs.
    
    My brother's favorite snack was Pecan Sandies, which he could
    eat.
    
    CJ

    I second the suggestion to contact Joslin Diabetes Center, there are  
    several clinics other then just the main original one in Boston.  They
    are excellent and you will find that they have come a long way in treating 
    diabetes, especially in children.  There are lots of things that they 
    allow now that were not allowed when I was younger (which just made it 
    more appealing to do and I did).  
    
    They take individuals life styles, likes and dislikes into account and
    can work with the actual diabetic one on one and at the same time 
    work with the entire family.  Working with the right doctors with the
    right head set can make all the difference to the diabetic and has a 
    great deal to do with how well a diabetic manages their disease.  This 
    is just my opinion after living with diabetes for 18 years.    
    
    You can contact me off line for their number, or any other questions.  
    
    lori ( you prompted my first reply in parenting so I guess I better 
           introduce myself in the intro topic. )
    
      

    
    
    I have Gestational Diabetes.  What my Endocrinologist did was
    set up an appointment for me to meet with a nutritionist.  She
    went over my likes and dislikes and came up with a diet that
    I could live with.
    
    The hardest thing was giving up ice cream, but there are alot
    of frozen deserts out there nowadays.  Sugarfree popcycles,
    fudcycles, eskimo pies makes sugar free ice cream sandwiches,
    and klondike bars has a sugar free one as well. 
    
    My diet is really restricted due to the fact that I am controlling
    the diabetes by diet alone.   
    
    The Joslin Clinic has one of the best reputations in the country.
    I second contacting them as well.
    
    Jeanne
    

    To register in the DIABETES notes file contact Sue MAY28::YURYAN.
    
    PARENTING note 19 is our place for recipes.
    
    I recommend that your friend contact the Juvenile Diabetes association. 
    There are LOTS of books available on diabetes, including diet, and the
    association can make recommendations.  Most large hospitals have
    diabetic educational programs and sell books.
    
    Diabetics can eat anything if it fits into their daily diet.  The
    child's doctor must have provided a daily diet plan which would
    indicate the nature of the snack, such as protein-carbo-fruit (e.g.
    peanut butter on crackers with some grapes).  
    
    The doctor really should refer your friend to the closest diabetic
    educational program.  There is probably a regularly recurring class for
    parents of newly-diagnosed children.
    
    The doctor should also refer your friend to a hospital dietician who
    will provide an individual diet program, often in conjunction with the
    educational program.
    
    Advise your friend to insist on both the education and dietetic
    counselling.  They are essential.
    
    For example, Catholic Medical Center in Manchester NH has a good
    educational program.  Your friend's doctor should know where to turn. 
    Failing that, contact the larger local hospitals for information.
    
    Laura

    Thanks for the info, I am compiling all of the great tips and sending
    them to her.  I can tell by all I've read, that education is the 
    key to fighting this!
    
    

    A bit late but .... I am diabetic, insulin-dependent, diagnosed at 18.
    
    Snacking and breakfast were always 2 of the hardest things for me to
    eat - breakfast foods always tend to be fatty or sweet, and the
    traditional "snacks" tend to be fatty.  Try telling an 18-year old that
    those weekly trips to Friendly's are out of the question!
    
    So anyway, with a lot of help from my nutritionist, we came up with a
    few "stranger" snacks, that are actually quite tasty .... 
    
    I would also recommend Joslin.  When I was first diagnosed, I was
    admitted (you don't have to be!) to Joslin for 8 days of intensive
    education.  They offer (free) daily classes on all different topics. 
    The main clinic is in Boston in the LongWood Medical area, but they
    also have a clinic in Framingham, and possibly other places.  If you
    call them they can send you a schedule of classes, and you are welcome
    to attend whatever one(s) you'd like, and they used to be free (I
    assume they still are).  Some of the "better" classes might be to try
    to attend the "sick days", and "eating out" classes.
    
    Most snacks usually include a starch and protein - Peanut butter
    becomes REALLY wonderful here! Some snacks ....
    
    Cheese and crackers or fruit
    Peanut butter and fruit
    Peanuts and raisins (a child may prefer cracking them from the shell)
    English muffins with p.b.
    Celery and p.b.
    Popcorn with melted cheese
    bread w/ a slice or two of lunchmeat/chz
    fruit salad
    
    Sometimes instead of a sandwich I'll substitute chz and crackers, or
    I've been known to have a burger for breakfast.  Two things will help
    make dealing with this a LOT easier ...
    
    FIRST: Get rid of ALL those notions that certain foods are only for
    certain times of the day.  If he wants Chicken nuggets for b.fast, and
    it fits within the meal plan, then Why Not??
    SECOND:  Get educated!!  There's a LOT of different theories on just
    about everything from re-using syringes (I use mine 4-5 times each
    without any problems, for years), to whether or not to refrigerate
    insulin(don't refrig. "open" bottles, do refrig all others), to using
    alcohol before the shot (it does no more than soap and water!), and
    different methods of glucose testing - there's piles and piles of
    information and opinions available.  Use your common sense, stay with
    what feels comfortable to YOU, and don't be afraid to be scared and
    depressed and cheated ... I had a *REAL* hard time adjusting to it all
    before I knew that it was "okay" to feel a bit resentful and scared
    about it at first.  
    
    If you/your friend wants to send mail off-line, I'd be happy to offer
    whatever help I can.
    
    Another thing that helps - when you go to "parties" always bring along
    a "dish" that's okay for him to eat.  Bring a fruit-salad or melon, so
    he'll be sure to have some dessert, or other items that will fit in his
    meal plan that may not otherwise necessarily be available.  ALWAYS plan
    on bringing diet soda, unsweetened juice, or plan to drink water - a
    LOT of people don't have "diet" items available.  Nothing worse than
    being somewhere with nothing to DRINK!
    
    Finally, there's some new technology, that is still slightly
    experimental, that involves the administration of imniosuppresent (sp?)
    drugs ... theory being that diabetes is caused by the body thinking
    that it's own insulin-producing cells are intruders, and fights them
    off (a suicide of sorts).   They've found in people who are FIRST
    diagnosed, they are able to administer the drugs, and provide a period
    of extended remission, and in some cases able to stop the progression
    of the disease.  Obviously it's still new, but if it can give him 5 or
    10 more years as a "normal" kid, it may be worth it.  I do know that
    it's only for when they're FIRST diagnosed, and early diagnoses is
    important.  Joslin and/or the Deaconess Hospital would definitely have
    more information on this.
    
    Hope this helps, and I wish your friend and her child well .... 

    I remember trying to come up with a surprise birthday cake for someone
    who was diabetic.  My mother suggested angel food cake.
    
    Dave

    Hahaha .... you just reminded me - my mother made me sugar-free Jello
    and Pudding for one b.day ... the candles kind of melted the stuff, but
    it was the thought that counted!

   I have no personal experience with this, so if this is a naive
   question, please just tell me to go away... :-)
   
   re: .-1 - the list of snack foods... you mention that you had to get
   rid of fatty foods as well as sweets, and then you listed several
   times either peanuts or peanut butter.  Isn't that a fairly fatty
   snack?
   
   Just wondering,

   - Tom

    
    
    Yes, peanut butter contains fat and sugar - but I think
    the source of protein outweighs the negative.
    
    Jeanne
    
    

    Peanut butter is both a fat and protein, but when compared to the "just
    fat" fatty foods (bacon, sausage) and the cholesterol in eggs and other
    proteins, it's one of the better choices .... I can only take so much
    turkey breast! (-:
    
    The other big advantage to PB, is that it doesn't "spoil", so you can
    leave it in a desk drawer or locker, and when visiting, most people
    have p.b., if needed.

    On a rather "seasonal" note, have your friend contact the Clara Barton
    Camp in Oxford (MA).  This is a summer camp just for diabetics.  I live
    in Oxford, and it's one of the town's best kept secrets.  (My knowledge
    comes from working with the town ambulance)  They are staffed with lay
    councelors and nurses, and other medical personnell. Articles in
    the local paper have praised this camp up and down.  Considering summer
    is right around the corner I'd think there must be some staff currently
    there getting ready for the influx of campers.  I think it's both
    overnight and day camp for most age groups.  There is swimming and good
    camp activities offered, along with controlled diet, and of course meds
    are given in a way that doesn't make the camper feel "different".
    
    Lyn