A prospective comparison of 'conventional' and high carbohydrate/high fibre/low fat diets in adults with established type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes.

Diabetic associations throughout the world are recommending high carbohydrate/high fibre/low fat diets for diabetic patients as a means of improving general health and metabolic control. We have previously shown that the efficacy of a 'conventional' low carbohydrate diet can be greatly increased by improving the method of dietary education. To test whether further improvement in metabolic control could be achieved by changing to a high carbohydrate/high fibre/low fat diet we have followed a group of 40 Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetic adults for up to 19 months. They had all been prescribed a conventional low carbohydrate diet taught by one of three methods (dietician only, practical lunchtime demonstration or videotape). Those taught by dietician only were left as a control group for follow-up (group A). The others were randomized either to continue on their present diet (group B) or to change to a high carbohydrate/high fibre/low fat diet (group C). At final assessment those in groups B and C were more knowledgeable, compliant and better controlled than group A. Those in group C achieved a change from 38% carbohydrate/43% fat/20 g fibre daily to 45% carbohydrate/34% fat/32 g fibre daily. However, metabolic control in group C deteriorated while taking the high carbohydrate/high fibre/low fat diet (haemoglobin A1 went from 9.4 +/- 0.5% to 11.2 +/- 0.5%, p less than 0.01, over 4 months). None of the patients in group C changed their eating habits or those of their families nearly as much as was recommended.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes