Approach to Nutritional Problems of Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Transition from to Adult Services

Abstract

Medical nutrition therapy of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1D) is one of the main components of diabetes care and education. Medical nutrition therapy aims to maintain growth and development with optimal glycemic control and to protect diabetics from acute, chronic complications in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetics. Dietary recommendations for children and adolescents with T1D are based on healthy eating recommendations suitable for all children and the main aim is to ensure to growth and development of the child. Difficulties in nutrition therapy and education of children and adolescents with T1D are generally associated with age and reflect the nutritional and developmental needs of different age groups. Therefore, the characteristics of different age groups should be considered in nutritional therapy. This article will focus on the problems related to nutrition in preschool and adolescent diabetics and on the transfer to the adult clinic of young people with diabetes.