Are the Nutritional Recommendations for Insulin‐dependent Diabetic Patients Being Achieved?

Abstract

Dietary intake was assessed, using a 3-day recorded food diary, in 122 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. Subjects were selected randomly from patients attending a diabetic clinic and stratified for age, sex, and duration of diabetes. The findings were compared to the dietary recommendations of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) and to the findings in a recent Irish National Nutrition Survey. The average daily protein intake among diabetic patients was 18% of the total calories, significantly higher than recommended by EASD and significantly higher than in the age-matched general population. Dietary fat intake was on average 37% of total calorie intake, again significantly higher than recommended and greater than in the general population among older patients. Saturated fat intake was higher than recommended and polyunsaturated fat intake was low. The average carbohydrate intake was 42% of total calories, significantly lower than recommended and similar to that in the general population. Sugar intake was lower and starch intake was higher among patients than in the general population, however. Fibre intake was also lower than recommended, but was higher than in the general population. We conclude that the present dietary targets for diabetic patients are not being fully achieved.

Lifestyle intervention in people with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)

“…Findings from our own and other Lifestyle intervention in people with IDDM TL Perry et al studies (DCCT Research Group 1995;Capper et al, 1985;Close et al, 1992;Humphreys et al, 1994) Close et al, 1992;Humphreys et al, 1994). Similar ®ndings have been reported for people with NIDDM (Milne et al, 1994).…”

Metabolic Effects of Dietary Sucrose and Fructose in Type II Diabetic Subjects

“…Many studies are now showing the inverse relationship between sugar and fat in normal and diabetic diets. In practice, low-sugar diets are generally higher in fat and vice-versa (47,48), and a low-sugar, high-fat diet may be more dangerous than the reverse.…”

Are the nutritional guidelines for diabetics achievable?

“…The mean carbohydrate intakes in these studies varied from 39 to 43 % of total energy. Dietary fibre intakes were well below that recommended in each study and soluble fibre intakes were low (Close et al 1992;Humphreys et al 1994).…”

“…7 4 9 g k g body weight (EASD, 1995). Protein intakes were either above or on the upper end of recommendations in the studies of Close et al (1992), Shimakawa et al (1993), Humphreys et al (1994) and Toeller et al (1996. When compared with the intakes of age-matched subjects in the general population, there were significantly higher protein intakes in all diabetic groups (Humphreys et al 1994).…”

“…However, only four of these were found to have protein intakes of 0.8 g/kg body weight or below. Protein tended to come from predominantly animal sources (Humphreys et al 1994;Toeller et al 1996), a factor that may not be desirable in light of the evidence that this type of protein has a more adverse effect on kidney function than vegetable protein (Pendersen et al 1990). …”