Carbohydrate Restriction and Growth Failure in Two Children with Type 1 Diabetes: A Case Report

Abstract

Variety of media have popularized restrictive diets in diabetes mellitus reporting that carbohydrates are the cause of glycemic excursion, excessive insulin dosage, and weight gain. We report 2 cases of children with type 1 diabetes where adherence to restricted carbohydrate diets caused growth failure. Two prepubertal patients with type 1 diabetes presented at follow-up visit during the honeymoon period with no weight increase and low height velocity. Dietetic evaluation revealed a low-carbohydrate diet had been introduced in an attempt to achieve less postprandial excursions in the blood glucose readings. The 2 patients started to improve weight and height when the appropriate amount of carbohydrates was given. There are few published data to support not to restrict carbohydrate; therefore, we report 2 cases of children with type 1 diabetes where adherence to this diet caused growth failure. We want to emphasize the importance of educating families of children with type 1 diabetes on this aspect, particularly when they are in the honeymoon phase or this one is concluding.