Formerly called juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent diabetes, 10 per cent of those diagnosed with diabetes suffer from Type 1. Its symptoms, and the resulting diagnoses, most often occur in childhood or early adolescence, but can strike adults as well.

Onset

When a person is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, it means that their pancreas does not generate insulin. Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose, a type of sugar, from food into cells to generate energy. Without insulin, too much glucose stays in the blood. Over time, high blood sugar can lead to many serious complications, including:

We all know that kids eat what is available. Because adults usually decide what food kids will eat, it’s important to help them form healthy habits now to maintain a healthy weight and avoid future health problems. Small changes in the following key areas can make a huge difference.

Fruits and Vegetables

Kids should eat five fruits and vegetables each day. Frozen and canned fruits and vegetables count too, so serve those if fresh ones aren’t available. Offer kids 100 per cent juice with no added sugar. For picky eaters, you can mix or hide them in other dishes, like putting peas in rice or cucumbers on sandwiches.

Reduce Fat and Sugar

• Buy low- or non-fat dairy products like milk and yogourt
• Choose lean cuts of meat like skinless chicken
• Bake instead of fry
• Substitute olive or vegetable oil for butter
• Provide less soda and sugar-sweetened drinks
• Serve fruit-based desserts instead of ice cream or cake

Cholesterol is a type of fat produced by the liver. Essential to proper body function, it aids in hormone production, supports nerve and brain development, helps the liver digest fats and is a key substance in every cell of the body.

While cholesterol is important to your health, it is possible you can have too much of a good thing. Cholesterol travels to your cells through your bloodstream. Because it is a fat, it does not mix well with water or blood, and must be wrapped in protein. This is called lipoprotein cholesterol, which is categorized into two forms:

If changing eating habits was easy, everyone would be fit and healthy. One key to making lasting improvements is to make changes in stages. Start with something simple and stick to it for a week. After your family has mastered one change, add another.

Some Ideas to Get You Started

• Eat breakfast.
• Substitute water for one sugary drink each day.
• Eat one to two more fruits or vegetables each day.
• Plan a healthy snack for each day of the week.
• Switch to a low-fat version of a favourite food.
• Plan three meals and two snacks every day.
• Plan a home-cooked meal, which usually has fewer calories and more reasonable portions, and costs less than typical meals eaten at restaurants.