Actually most people with Type 1 CAN have the occassional treat and eat normally. All we have to do is match our insulin dosage to what we eat. It's called "carb counting". The new fast insulins called "analogues" are very good now and are absorbed quickly.

Many T1's, such as myself, also have an insulin pump, which allows for constant and very preicse dosing.

T1 is caused by an insulin deficiency, not insulin resistance (Type 2) so we can eat normally provided we take insulin for it and have not become overweight.

Of course, it is not healthy for anyone to eat crap all the time, but we CAN have a treat if we account for it.

Some kids must follow a "stricter" plan since they are on the older insulin dosing routines or their parents don't know how to carb count. For most though, the new insulins and insulin pumps allow much more freedom. Don't forget that ANY carbs raise blood sugar levels, whether they come from cake or come from an apple. 15 grams of carbs=15 grams of carbs. An apple given to a diabetic kid will raise the blood sugar the same as a 4-5 Lifesavers candies. Or, 3 medium oranges will cause the same raise as a can of Coke (45 grams of carbs). Of course the candy will raise the BG quicker (but it really doesn't matter if you make no insulin to cover it without a shot anyway, you will still go high without it) and is less healthy, but it still affects blood sugar the same amount in a T1 as something "healthy".

Everyone (T1 kids included) should still eat healthily most of the time, but they CAN usually have treats like everyone else, provided their blood sugar is not high at the time.