How Alabama children with diabetes make wholesome + enjoyable recipes

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When Nakeishia Benson’s son, Antonio, was six, he began getting unusually sleepy and sick. Thinking it was COVID-19, she took Antonio to the hospital to seek out he had extraordinarily excessive blood sugar and was identified with kind 1 diabetes shortly after.

It was a demanding time for the Benson household, however throughout our dialog with Nakeishia, she stated again and again that she couldn’t have made it by with out assist from the docs and nurses at Children’s of Alabama.

Even now, as a thriving 10-year-old, Antonio nonetheless has struggles together with his diabetes. But there’s one thing proper right here in Birmingham that makes navigating his prognosis somewhat simpler. Check out this useful resource that’s serving to Antonio and children like him discover meals that works for his or her food plan and helps develop their independence.

Kids with diabetes study to make meals suitable with their food plan

As a singular useful resource for youths with diabetes proper right here in Birmingham, there’s a factor referred to as The Charlie Cart. It comes round as soon as a month at Children’s of Alabama’s High-Risk Diabetes Clinic and serves as a possibility for youngsters to study extra in regards to the meals that they’re consuming.

To study somewhat extra in regards to the Charlie Cart and the way it helps children with diabetes, we talked to a registered dietitian at Children’s: Mary Elaine Bridges.

For the previous yr and a half, Mary Elaine has labored within the endocrinology clinic the place she:

• Counsels sufferers
• Provides training for beneficial diets for diagnoses
• Teaches a post-hospital diabetes course
• Leads the PCOS + Charlie Cart Clinics

What is the Charlie Cart?

Mary Elaine Bridges performs a cooking demo and has the youngsters observe studying and creating recipes. The key to a Charlie Cart demonstration is to select a wholesome snack—ideally inexpensive and simple for youths to remake themselves.

“The parents like the idea of their child learning how to be in the kitchen, make snacks for themselves and be independent. Plus, the parents can take these recipes and recreate them at home.”

Mary Elaine Bridges, registered dietitian, Children’s of Alabama

Last month, the youngsters discovered to make “spooky” snacks simply in time for Halloween:

• Ghosts: Half-cut bananas with chocolate chip eyes
• Witches’ broomsticks: Pretzel sticks with string cheese
• Pumpkins: Tangerines with a celery stem
• Mummies: Babybell cheese wheels with chocolate chip eyes

The Charlie Cart makes an enormous distinction for Antonio + his household

While his prognosis was practically 4 years in the past, Antonio nonetheless faces challenges each day—the identical for each different child with kind 1 or kind 2 diabetes.

But with hands-on assets and academic alternatives, households throughout Alabama can get by somewhat simpler.

“The social workers, child life therapists, nutritionists, everyone—anytime I call, someone is going to call me back. Even if I feel like everything is falling apart, someone’s going to help.”

Nakeishia Benson

November is Diabetes Awareness Month

In addition to the Charlie Cart, Children’s gives different academic assets similar to:

• A summer time camp for youths with diabetes
• Post-hospital diabetes programs
• One-on-one periods with diabetes educators + dieticians

“The most important part of the collaboration in the endocrinology clinic is getting patients and their families involved in their own care. When they’re engaged, they’re able to learn practical tools that they can use at home.”

Mary Elaine Bridges, registered dietitian, Children’s of Alabama

The diabetes program at Children’s of Alabama is among the largest within the nation, serving greater than 2,600 youngsters.

“I love making the learning process easy for them. That’s my favorite part: Seeing the children in the kitchen and using food to create things they love.”

Mary Elaine Bridges, registered dietitian, Children’s of Alabama

See more about this one-of-a-kind resource + other ways Children’s of Alabama helps Birmingham.

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