Abstract
Background
Many young children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) do not consume a healthful
diet; exactly why this occurs despite T1DM education remains poorly understood.
Objective
This study describes parents’ perceptions of healthful eating for T1DM in young children
and identifies factors related to parents’ dietary management.
Design
A cross-sectional, mixed-methods study was performed. Parents completed a questionnaire,
3-day weighed diet record, and a semi-structured interview regarding their perceptions
of healthful eating for T1DM and their dietary management practices.
Participants/setting
Twenty-three families, recruited from a pediatric diabetes clinic in the midwestern
United States between February 2012 and April 2013, participated. Eligible families
had a child with T1DM who was 1 to 6 years old, at least 6 months from diagnosis,
and was following an intensive insulin regimen.
Statistical analyses performed
Mean scores and percentages were calculated from the diet diaries and parent questionnaires,
and parents’ interviews were coded to identify common themes.
Results
Results showed that while parents may believe they know what constitutes a healthful
diet for T1DM, they do not always feed their child a healthful diet. Parent-identified
barriers to healthful eating included limited time to prepare homemade meals, perceived
higher costs of healthier foods, the influence of peers on children’s food preferences,
and picky eating. Parents also discussed a desire not to limit their child’s diet
or make their child “feel different,” which many parents said often led them to give
into their child’s requests for less healthful food options.
Conclusions
Parents of young children with T1DM identified several barriers to healthful eating
that are common for all parents, such as time constraints, expense, and child food
preferences. However, unique themes emerged, including parents’ desire not to limit
their child’s diet or make their child “feel different.” Nutrition components of T1DM
education should include psychological and behavioral strategies to help parents manage
these unique concerns.
Keywords
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Biography
S. R. Patton is an associate professor and a certified diabetes educator, Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, MO.
Biography
K. George is a PhD candidate in dietetics and nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, MO.
Biography
M. A. Clements is an assistant professor, Division of Endocrinology, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO.
Biography
K. Goggin is a professor, Health Outcomes Research Department, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: August 08, 2015
Accepted:
June 22,
2015
Received:
June 25,
2014
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT This research was supported in part by grant R03-DK090288 (to S. R. Patton) from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Identification
Copyright
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