DIET FOR DIABETES MELLITUS
DIET FOR DIABETES MELLITUSMedical nutrition therapy for diabetes requires the application of nutritional, medical and behaviour sciences. This can be accomplished using a four-pronged approach. The first step is a comprehensive nutrition assessment that includes metabolic, nutrition and lifestyle parameters. The second step is setting goals with the patient and these goals must be practical, achievable and acceptable for the patient with diabetes. The third step, nutrition intervention, must incorporate a variety of meal planning and nutrition education resources that the patients can easily understand and use. The fourth step is evaluation, which reassesses how the goals have been accomplished and indicates area for future self-management education. The goals of diet therapy are:1. To maintain and prolong a healthy, productive and a satisfying life.2. To improve health through optimum nutrition.3. To provide calories for reasonable body weight, normal growth and development.4. To maintain glycemic control.5. To achieve optimal blood lipid levels.6. To minimize nutrition-related, chronic, degenerative complication.Adapting diet therapy to the specific needs of an individual patient is most essential; however, there are a few basic principles to be followed.The basic principles for planning diet for diabetics are:1. Age, sex, activity, height, body weight, cultural factors.2. Type of diabetes, mode of treatment, control of diabetes.3. Aggravating factors: infections, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular disorders, pregnancy.Based on these factors, the primary consideration is of calorie requirements, to achieve one’s ideal body weight with a balanced wholesome meal.*1/356/5*
