Endocrine and metabolic consequences due to restrictive carbohydrate diets in children with type 1 diabetes: An illustrative case series

Martin de Bock; Kristine Lobley; Donald Anderson; Elizabeth Davis; Kim Donaghue; Marcelle Pappas; Aris Siafarikas; Yoon Hi Cho; Timothy Jones; Carmel Smart

doi:10.1111/pedi.12527

Endocrine and metabolic consequences due to restrictive carbohydrate diets in children with type 1 diabetes: An illustrative case series

Pediatr Diabetes. 2018 Feb;19(1):129-137. doi: 10.1111/pedi.12527. Epub 2017 Apr 11.

Authors

Martin de Bock^{1

2

3}, Kristine Lobley⁴, Donald Anderson^{5

6

7}, Elizabeth Davis^{1

2

3}, Kim Donaghue^{8

9}, Marcelle Pappas^{5

6

7}, Aris Siafarikas^{1

2

3

10}, Yoon Hi Cho^{11

12}, Timothy Jones^{1

2

3}, Carmel Smart^{5

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Telethon Kids Institute, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
² Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, Australia.
³ The School of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
⁴ The Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, John Hunter Children's Hospital, Newcastle, Australia.
⁶ University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia.
⁷ Mothers and Babies Group Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Australia.
⁸ Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Australia.
⁹ Sydney Medical School University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
¹⁰ Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Australia.
¹¹ Institute of Endocrinology and Diabetes, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia.
¹² Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 28397413
DOI: 10.1111/pedi.12527

Abstract

Low carbohydrate diets for the management of type 1 diabetes have been popularised by social media. The promotion of a low carbohydrate diet in lay media is in contrast to published pediatric diabetes guidelines that endorse a balanced diet from a variety of foods for optimal growth and development in children with type 1 diabetes. This can be a source of conflict in clinical practice. We describe a series of 6 cases where adoption of a low carbohydrate diet in children impacted growth and cardiovascular risk factors with potential long-term sequelae. These cases support current clinical guidelines for children with diabetes that promote a diet where total energy intake is derived from balanced macronutrient sources.

Keywords: carbohydrate; children; growth; nutrition; type 1 diabetes.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Child
Child Development
Child, Preschool
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / diet therapy*
Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted / adverse effects*
Female
Humans
Infant
Male