Diabetes melitus

Diabetes melitus cannot be cured but can be well controlled. Diet plays a key role in its control.All patients with diabetes require diet therapy. Good glycaemic control is unlikely to be achieved with insulin or oral therapy when diet is neglected, especially when the patient is also over weight. In older patients diet alone should be tried in the first instance, and dietary knowledge and compliance should always be reassessed with care before proceeding to the next step. This is of particular importance in the obese patients who fail to lose weight. The actual height and weight of the patient are to be noted. Obese patients are to be given a reducing diet, on the other hand lean and thin subjects should receiv e a weight- gaining diet. In cases of mild diabetes with obesity, diet control alone is required. Ideal calorie requirement is 20 calories per Kg of body weight. Protein requirement is 1-1.5 gm per Kg of body weight for adults and 2-3 gm per Kg of body weight for children. Carbohydrate requirement is 2gm per Kg of body weight to prevent ketoacidosis. In practice, 40% of total calorie should come from the carbohydrate. Regarding fat, it is better to prescribe unsaturated fat to keep the cholesterol level under control.

blood sugar levels can also be controlled by diet... it is an important factor for diabetes patients.. they have to maintain their diet. Actually, when the sugar levels are maintain through diet, it is much more efficient for the body because it does not have to work very hard on making the diabetes medicines usable for the body. Healthy food works in mysterious ways yknow! :) happy eating