If your child has received a type 1 diabetes diagnosis, their doctor or healthcare team will come up with a management plan suitable to their individual needs and treatment journey.

The current treatment and management guidelines for children with type 1 diabetes involve:

Additional guidelines may depend on your child’s specific situation. Some children with type 1 diabetes may also need screening for celiac disease or monitoring of their thyroid function.

According to 2023 research, someone with diabetes should get about 50% to 55% of their daily energy intake from carbohydrates, 30% from fats, and 10% to 15% from protein.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends the following diabetes eating plan:

  • Try to fill 1/2 of your plate with non-starchy vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, or cauliflower.
  • Try to fill 1/4 of your plate with protein sources like chicken, turkey, salmon, or cod.
  • Try to fill 1/4 of your plate with carbohydrates like brown rice, quinoa, potatoes, or kidney beans.
  • Try to swap sugary drinks for water or a low calorie drink like diet soda or unsweetened tea or coffee.

For more tips and examples, check out the ADA’s healthy eating blog.

Children with type 1 diabetes can live a full and healthy life but will need additional lifestyle modifications, treatment, and support.

To better support them as they navigate this new diagnosis, the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) recommends learning as much as possible about their condition. This can include:

Your child’s healthcare team will most likely include:

They can answer any questions you might have about your child’s treatment plan.

To learn more about how to best care for a child with diabetes, read “This Is How You Can Best Care for a Child with Diabetes.”