Having any chronic illness is difficult for a child, especially if that illness involves dietary restrictons. The child with diabetes has been taught to avoid sweets in order to keep blood sugars in balance. These sweet foods are often associated with enjoyment, fun times and rewards. A child not allowed these foods may feel deprived and left out of special occasions. These restrictions may also lead a child to sneak sweets and later feel guilty of ashamed for doing so.

Should a child with diabetes be denied foods that others find so enjoyable? The best people to answer this question and other questions about actual Childern out patient diabetes clinic 119 childern raning in age from 8 to 18 years were asked what they thought about cholate and candy isssue and how they were following the dietary recommendations they had been taught.

The childern were given a questionnaire to answer in private room away from their parents and clinic staff. The children responded as follows:

• 84% of the childern wished they could eat chocolate and candy more often that they were currently allowed (i.e., only on special occasions)
• 66% of the childern said that they were already eating chocolate and candy more often that on special occasions. The childern were having the sweets as extra food from extra activity, to treat low blood sugar reactions or just when they felt like eating it.
• 64% of the childern answered that they "somtimes" or "never" had their parents' coonsent when they were eating the treats.
• Some of the childern tried to work the candy and chocolate into their diet by taking extra insulin, increasing their physical activity or skipping a meal. Other childern did not do anything to work the treats in.
• The childern were asked if they knew how to fit an average size chocolate bar into their meal plan. Over half the childern could not correctly identify how the chocolate bar could be worked in.
• When asked if their meal plan would be easier if chocolate and candy were allowed more often.
• 37% Yes
• 19% No
• 44% maybe or no opinion

The responses to this questioonnaire clearly indicate that the childern are eating treats more often they they are supposed to. Their parents may or may not know about it, they don't know how to fit in the treats and their diet may be easier to follow if they have chocolate and candy more often.