Diabetes and snacks

This is because its action is closer to the way blood glucose rises after a meal. This results in a lower insulin level between meals.

Most children can have a piece of fruit (10 g of carbohydrate) as a snack without extra insulin, but if it is larger you will probably need a small dose of insulin along with it. Some younger children (up to 9-10 years of age) need a larger afternoon snack when they come home from school. When on multiple injections, many families find it easier to give insulin with this afternoon snack and have dinner/tea a little later. The evening snack is then omitted. Try giving the same amount of insulin with the afternoon snack eaten earlier, as you would have done with the evening snack (or according to the carbohydrate gram count).

When regular short-acting insulin is injected, its effect lasts for 4-5 hours, and that of intermediate-acting insulin even longer if taken in twice daily injections.

This results in having a higher insulin concentration between meals, than would be found in individuals without diabetes. This is why snacks are important with this type of insulin regimen. Since the morning injection is usually larger than the lunchtime one, it is even more essential to eat a snack in the morning. A child in school will usually require a sandwich (or something equally substantial) as the mid-morning snack. However, if the school lunch is served early, a piece of fruit might do. In the afternoon a piece of fruit will usually be an adequate snack.