Vegetarianism and type 1 diabetes in children

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by an absolute deficiency of insulin secretion. T1D management rests on three pillars: insulin therapy, correct diet and physical exercise. The aim is to focus the attention on diet and mainly on vegetarian diet, in order to evaluate if this kind of food style can offer the correct supply of nutrients, necessary for growth and well control glycaemic management. This paper is a short commentary on vegetarianism in the pediatric and adolescent population with Type 1 Diabetes. In all non-omnivorous diets there is a risk of a lack of some nutrients, as B12 vitamin and n 3 fatty acids which must therefore be measured. It is also important to monitor eating disorders especially in adolescent girls. About vegan diet, attention must be paid to the possible injury on growth brain already at risk, in diabetic children compared to the general population, due to insults related to frequent glucose variability (periods of prolonged hyperglycaemia alternating with hypoglycaemic episodes). In conclusion, vegetarian diet could be suitable for children with type 1 diabetes; vegan diet could be too restrictive but with appropriate additions can be followed by these patients.