When kids with diabetes sneak food and what to do about it…
Halloween is upon us…..then comes all the other chocolatey type holidays after that, until basically May. How do we deal with it all? So many opportunities for eating and overeating….
Newsflash…I snuck food as a kid. I have vivid memories of grabbing the tub of frosting in the fridge and having spoonfuls of it when I wasn’t low ....because it looked yummy in my brain, and no one was there to tell me no. I was probably 10 or 11. Eating an extra 2 or 3 Reese's pb cups after school. Sound familiar?
And, why exactly do we call it “sneaking” food anyway. Isn’t our role as a parent to teach our kids to be independent and make their own decisions? Would we feel the same about our non T1D kiddos and have different expectations for them at the same age? Encourage them to send a text every time they eat a snack after school? WHOA!
Anywhere between the ages of 6-8 kids start to understand they have the ability to go against a boundary, push consequences and limits. However, with diabetes always in our back pockets sneaking DOES have a different meaning. When we’re educated that nearly every bite we consume as a type 1 needs to be counted, known, accounted for, yes there is that piece. We as parents of kids with T1D have it a bit “harder” in the fact that we grapple with, “I want to teach my kid to be independent” but wait ... .that still means that I need to know every single thing you are eating…..”
For now, just know that any time we may see a wrapper tucked under a bed, or shoved in the glove compartment of a car…It most likely means they’re being a kid, they are hungry, or they are looking for opportunities for connection, anxious or stressed, AND they don’t yet have the skills to process what I do or don’t do now (aka bolus exactly for what this frappuccino has carb wise) may affect me later on.
It’s also a great opportunity to check in with your kiddo. Of course we don't want this to happen, AND it's incredibly normal. When I speak to families and parents individually I talk a lot about “safety over perfection” Maybe this new boundary might look like trying out a bit of independence where you won’t check in or text unless your child’s been over 250 for an hour, or that if they eat anything more than what they think is 15-20g they need to let you know. It’s all about balance. The goal is to offer this push/pull towards eventual independence.
Things to ask yourself might be…
Is my child doing this at every meal, all the time? Do I notice a pattern here?
Is this “sneaking” of food causing them to have extremely dangerous blood sugar levels?
If after answering these questions your answer is no then my recommendation is to connect with your child, talk about what’s working well, and what you both need to feel safe with managing diabetes. A few spoonfuls of frosting won’t hurt them in the long run, PROMISE!
YOU GOT THIS!
