Changes in hedonic responses to sweet and fat in recently diagnosed non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients during diet therapy.

A study was undertaken to find out how the hedonic responses to, and reported liking and consumption of, sweet and fat foods change during the first months of diet therapy of recently diagnosed patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. The patients were 12 women and 19 men aged 40-65 years. The methods used consisted of hedonic rating tests and summated scales which measured overall tendencies to like and consume fatty and sweet foods. These measurements were made three times at intervals of six weeks. At the same time clinical measurements, weight and glycaemic control were recorded. Hedonic ratings of sweet juices decreased during three months of therapy, but hedonic responses to fatty food items (cheese, milk) remained practically unchanged. After three months of diet therapy the diabetic subjects liked fatty and sweet foods less and consumed them less frequently, which was the aim of the diet therapy. At the same time their metabolic control improved markedly, too.