A person whose diabetes is well controlled can often rely on feeling hungry or satisfied at the appropriate time. In one adult study, where fullness after a meal was measured, individuals with higher blood glucose levels experienced more fullness. It is particularly important, if you are caring for a child with diabetes, to trust the child to respond sensibly to the promptings of appetite. Continuing to tell children that they must eat more or less regardless of how hungry they feel, will cause them to cease recognizing these feelings after a while. Children often experience lowered appetite if their blood glucose level is high. It is important, therefore, to give children time to reflect and build up their own opinion about what size meals should be. On the other hand, it is important for parents to be vigilant about how much children drink with any meal, especially if the drink contains carbohydrate (e.g. milk) or sugar. Beware! If you are lacking insulin and your diabetes is badly regulated, you may feel hungry even when your blood glucose level is high.
This content is based on Dr Ragnar Hanas' helpful book, Type 1 Diabetes in children, adolescents and young adults. Click here to order copies of Dr Hanas' book online.