Diabetes, diet

Alternative names:

diet for diabetics

Definition:

The specific dietary guidelines developed by the American Diabetes Association and the American Dietetic Association for diabetes management.

Functions:

There are two types of diabetes, and the nutrition goals for each are different.

With insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), the main focus of diet planning is balance and consistency. Meals should be planned to be eaten at approximately the same time everyday. The meals and snacks should be planned in conjunction with the insulin dose and the person's physical activity. The amount and type of food, and the carbohydrate, protein, and fat content of the meals and snacks, should be consistent from day to day. This helps with the delicate balance of food intake, insulin, and physical activity that is necessary for optimal blood sugar (glucose) control. If these components are not in balance, there can be wide variations (from too high to too low) in blood sugar levels.

Children with insulin-dependent diabetes present special challenges. Meal plans should be recalculated often to account for the child's change in caloric requirements. Physical activity may be more difficult to plan for and may be much more erratic than in an adult. Children may be more likely to require several snacks in their meal plan because they may not be able to meet their caloric needs in 3 meals. Concentrated sweets may be difficult to restrict in a child, and parents may require additional help in planning for special occasions such as birthday's and Halloween when sweet foods abound.

With noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), the main focus is on weight management and weight control, because 80 to 90% of these diabetics are overweight. A calorie-controlled meal plan is recommended along with appropriate physical activity. In many cases, weight control and a planned diet alone control diabetes; other diabetics must take oral medications in addition.