Impact of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet in Pediatric Type 1 Diabetes

Dietary carbohydrate consumption is a key factor influencing postprandial glycemia for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Because post-prandial glucose excursions profoundly influence hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), therapeutic approaches to mitigate post-prandial hyperglycemia are of great importance. The quantity and source of carbohydrates affect post-prandial glycemia more than any other dietary factor. These findings serve as the physiologic basis for a growing interest in carbohydrate-restricted diets in the management of T1DM despite American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines that discourage restricting total carbohydrate intake to less than 130 grams per day. Although case series and prospective studies suggest low-carbohydrate diets (LCD) significantly improve HbA1c for adults with T1DM, data in the pediatric T1DM population is limited. The investigators will conduct a randomized prospective pilot study evaluating glycemic control, lipidemia, and quality of life (QOL) in pediatric T1DM patients on a LCD.