Dietary survey of Finnish adolescent diabetics and non-diabetic controls.

Food consumption data of 152 diabetic and 74 non-diabetic adolescents were collected by means of two 48 h recall interviews. The nutrient density of the diet was systematically higher for the diabetics than the controls. The energy intake from protein was higher for the diabetics (18% vs. 15%), and correspondingly the proportion of fat lower (33% vs. 36%). The ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids was higher for the diabetics (0.49 vs. 0.39) and the share of energy from sucrose for the controls (14% vs. 4%). The intra-individual variation in nutrient intakes was higher for the controls. The diet of the diabetics met reasonably well the recommendations for diabetics and also the general recommendations for a healthy population. However, the differences between the diabetics and controls regarding food consumption, nutrient intake and intra-individual variation of nutrient intake decreased with age.