|
Teacher's Concern Over Hypoglycemic Diet
Q. I teach high school Spanish and
have a student diagnosed with hypoglycemia.
I have received a note from her mother asking
permission for Sarah to eat high protein
snacks
in class. The snacks she brings and
eats include large bags of chips, candy
and
cinnamon rolls from the vending machine.
She also drinks soda during the day.
I'm not a dietitian but I know none of this
is high protein. Can these foods be
harmful to her? If so, I feel I must
let her mother know she is eating this
junk
food. Any information you can send would
be appreciated.
A.
I am not sure what you mean by "diagnosed
with hypoglycemia" unless the child has
undergone a 3 hour glucose tolerance test.
Maybe she has symptoms of low blood sugar.
Could that be due to the kinds of foods she
is bringing to school? Or could she be sneaking
those types of food also because her blood
sugar is low?
Hypoglycemia
means "low blood sugar". Usually
the nutritional management for hypoglycemia
is frequent balanced meals. Small meals or
snacks that contain protein, some fat, and
complex carbohydrate (low glycemic) foods.
Complex carbohydrate sources from the low
glycemic category of foods will cause a slower
rise in blood sugar and a slower insulin response,
therefore a more stable blood sugar.
Please
use the following link for more information
about Glycemic Index and Glycemic Food List:
Glycemic
Food List
You
can suggest to the mother to send snacks such
as peanut butter and rye or wheat crackers,
cheese sticks, apples, cherries, peanuts,
other nuts, cheese sandwich, turkey sandwiches,
light yogurt, or peanut M and M's on occasion.
If your student is already having problems
with low blood sugar, eating and especially
drinking and eating sugary foods will not
solve the problem. It may affect her
ability to concentrate in school and/or affect
her behavior.
You
are the teacher, you decide if eating these
foods is affecting her work. I am sure
the mother would like to know the information
you have mentioned. I know you will be successful
in working with the child and the parent to
help resolve the problem.
As
a teacher involved with young girls you might
find a book called Afraid
to Eat by Frances Berg
very interesting. It is a great book.
I
hope this helped. Please
contact me for further information or if you have another question!
|
