Diet and exercise recommendations for diabetic patients should be similar to those for the general population, though it is more important for a diabetic patient to maintain a normal weight than it is for nondiabetics. A diet high in complex carbohydrate (with emphasis on fiber) and low in fat with some limitations on simple sugar [...]

Supplementation of micronutrients is not recommended in diabetes. Physicians are often asked about chromium picolinate, a preparation found in health food stores, which has been sold as treatment for diabetes. Ok everybody should understand that chromium is a cofactor of insulin. When rats are given a synthetic diet that does not contain chromium, they develop [...]

Yes, but there are certain danger specific to diabetes. Alcohol is a potent inhibitor of gluconeogenesis. Alcohol, especially when consumed separately from meals and without a carbohydrate (dry winw, whiskey and water, etc), can induce hypoglycemia. This is a practical concern in patients who are taking hypoglycemic agents such as insulin or sulfonylureas. The hypoglycemic [...]

Diabetic patients are advised to strive for a moderate protein intake. While it is true that protein turnover is increased in poorly controlled diabetes, this should not influence recommendations on dietary protein intake. When diabetes is controlled, protein metabolism becomes normal. The average dietary protein intake in the U.S. is 1.5gm/kg, which is in excess [...]

There has been a lot of debates about whether diabetic patients should consume a low-fat diet. It is nice that this controversy arises in a diabetic individual more than in nondiabetic population; bear in mind that low fat diet is still recommended for the prevention and treatment of coronary artery disease. A lot of studies [...]

For many years, the official position of the ADA was that diabetic individuals should consume a low-carbohydrate diet and specifically avoid free sugar. A lot of studies and trials have shown that simple sugars in the context of a mixed meal have the same effect on blood glucose levels as compare to complex (CHO) carbohydrates. [...]

Very low-calorie diets (VLCDs) have been used to achieve short-term weight reduction in patients with diabetes. These diets are appealing because of initial dramatic improvement in the metabolic profile. However, weight regain occurs in a high proportion of individuals. The long-term benefits of VLCDs are uncertain, and they should not be recommended for the management [...]