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Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune condition of unknown etiology, which usually appears in childhood.

The quality of the diet and body weight do not seem to be associated with the occurrence of T1DM, which is why there are no dietary or exercise manipulations that lead to its prevention.

This means that the unbalanced eating habits of children, such as reduced consumption of fruits and vegetables, increased consumption of sugar, sweets and soft drinks, etc., are not predisposing factors for the occurrence of T1DM. They are simply choices that children should pay attention to anyway in the context of a healthy lifestyle.

Correspondingly, the management of T1DM itself, once a child is diagnosed, is not based on any specialized nutritional guidelines. There are, therefore, no specific recommendations or a specific diet that should be given to children with type 1 diabetes and followed strictly. The nutritional recommendations, both for children and adults with type 1 diabetes, are the same as those for people without diabetes.

Specifically, speaking about Greek data, people with type 1 diabetes are recommended to follow the Mediterranean Diet model:

• Daily consumption of a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, olive oil – both in cooking and in salads – and on a weekly basis, legumes and fish, reducing meat consumption.
• The consumption of sweets and soft drinks should be limited, as in all children, regardless of the presence or absence of type 1 diabetes.
• Cooked food and its consumption in the context of family meals, as well as the preference for local products, all of this to the detriment of ready-made meals, are also an integral part of the Mediterranean diet.

The only nutritional peculiarity for people with type 1 diabetes concerns in training them to calculate the amount of carbohydrates contained in the foods they are going to consume, in order to make the corresponding breakfast dose of insulin.

Calculating carbohydrates can be achieved by various methods, such as based on grams or carbohydrate equivalents, food labels, the use of applications on mobile phones, and of course the person’s own experience. None of these are considered ideal. Again, the person with type 1 diabetes can choose the most convenient method for them, in collaboration with their dietitian.

Overall, the nutritional management of type 1 diabetes is in line with the recommendations for the general population, while the word individualization is mentioned by all official relevant health organizations, thus emphasizing that good regulation of type 1 diabetes essentially means supporting the person to adapt the nutritional guidelines to their life.