Nashauna Drummond, Staff Reporter

Diabetes is a lifestyle disease that is affecting an increasing number of Jamaican children. It is caused by a deficiency in the production of insulin by the pancreas. Insulin is the hormone that absorbs glucose (sugar) from the blood stream to the cells of the body.

There are two main types of diabetes.

Type I: The body does not produce enough insulin. Persons with this type of diabetes are required to take insulin every day by injection. This type is very common in children and young adults.

Type II: This is the most common form and can often, but not always, be managed without taking insulin. This type can be controlled with oral medications, strict diets, exercise and close monitoring by a physician.

Yvonne Campbell's daughter was diagnosed with type I diabetes when she was nine years old. She notes that at first it was frightening. "She was urinating regularly, and losing weight (she was always a plump child). At first we just thought she was growing and becoming more active."

After diagnoses, the Campbells cleared out the cupboards and went shopping, stocking up on 'healthy foods'. "But eventually we realised the child would have to get out in the real world with patties, sodas and sweets. So we began using regular foods but cutting down on the portions instead," said Campbell.

They had to learn about the disease and how to work with the health team. She noted that they also acknowledged the importance of exercise.

She went into her daughter's school and spoke to the teachers about the disease, her friends and the personnel in the cafeteria.

Insulin shots

"The good thing is that she only needed to have her insulin shots in the morning and evenings after school. We started sending her to school with a lunch box with snacks and sweets.

"When it came to birthday parties we told her, 'you can have the cake but take off the frosting'. At home we try and eat the same type of foods that she should eat. On Sundays we still have ice-cream and cake but manage the portions."

With such a change in the family's lifestyle, Campbell concedes, "It can be very hard."

Clinical therapist Dr. Sherrill Chong notes that for children with diabetes, it's important that they have their greens or any fruit that has green in it. She adds that it's very important that they have red, yellow and green in their lunch box in the right proportions; that is: 50 per cent green, 30 per cent yellow and 15 per cent red. She notes that green is not a very stimulating colour so parents have to make it interesting for example let them see broccoli as little trees etc. "Teach them from early to like them." She suggests incorporating cantaloupes, cucumber sticks, carrot sticks and dried fruits and nuts. She believes that the same diet that will cure a child's diabetes will be the same diet that will cure the mother's hypertension, as in the right proportions these foods put the body into self-healing mode.