And we wonder why we are a society of sugar addicts when the powers
that be
say it is ok that children with type 1 diabetes get their Halloween
sugar
fix.


Helping Diabetic Kids Enjoy the Treats of Halloween


Updated 10:29 AM ET October 31, 2000
By Suzanne Rostler
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - For kids with diabetes, Halloween can be
anything but sweet. But with a little planning, parents can treat kids
to a
healthy dose of candy, according to doctors at the Joslin Diabetes
Center in
Boston.

"Candy is not cocaine--it is not life threatening," Dr. Lori Laffel
told
Reuters Health. Laffel heads the pediatric unit at Joslin. "It's so
important for kids to always feel included."

Children with Type 1 diabetes do not produce enough insulin to process
food
after a meal. As a result, they require injections of insulin, the
hormone
that takes sugar (glucose) from the blood after a meal or snack and
deposits
it into cells throughout the body, to be used as energy.

Sweets are thought to be particularly risky for kids with diabetes
because
the simple sugar found in candy can cause a rapid spike in blood
glucose.
However, an overall treatment program that includes good nutrition,
exercise, and insulin injections will help kids maintain stable blood
glucose levels, Laffel explained.

Parents can help kids to incorporate moderate amounts of candy by
helping
them to count grams of carbohydrates, the food group that has the
greatest
effect on blood sugar.

"Carb counting," in which the doctor determines how many grams of
carbohydrate a person needs each day, is one way people with diabetes
manage
their disease. By helping kids to figure out how many grams of carbs
are in
a candy bar and then subtracting that number from the daily allotment,
kids
can include an occasional candy bar in their diet.

Exercise can also help kids keep their blood sugar levels stable,
since
physical activity helps the body use insulin more effectively.
According to
Laffel, exercise is as much a therapy for diabetes as it is a
recreation.

Offering kids sugarless gum or other treats such as crayons and
stickers can
help them enjoy the holiday in good health. Besides, Laffel said,
"kids
should not have a whole bag of candy whether the child has diabetes or
not."