CItation:
de Bock M, Lobley K, Anderson D, Davis E, Donaghue K, Pappas M, Siafarikas, A, Cho, Y.H, Jones, T, et al. Endocrine and metabolic consequences due to restrictive carbohydrate diets in children with type 1 diabetes: An illustrative case series. Pediatr Diabetes. 2018;19(1):129-37.
Keyword:
carbohydrate, children, growth, nutrition, type 1 diabetes
Abstract:
Low carbohydrate diets for the management of type 1 diabetes have been popularised by social media. The promotion of a low carbohydrate diet in lay media is in contrast to published pediatric diabetes guidelines that endorse a balanced diet from a variety of foods for optimal growth and development in children with type 1 diabetes. This can be a source of conflict in clinical practice. We describe a series of 6 cases where adoption of a low carbohydrate diet in children impacted growth and cardiovascular risk factors with potential long-term sequelae. These cases support current clinical guidelines for children with diabetes that promote a diet where total energy intake is derived from balanced macronutrient sources.