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Diabetes
In Control.com
Study #6
Carb
Counting And its Effect on Blood Sugars
Principal
Investigator:
Steve Freed, RPh, Diabetes Educator,
DiabetesInControl.com
Deerfield, IL 60006
800-798-6972
Open
Enrollment: current
Ending Enrollment: Jan 21, 2001 Conclusion
of Study: March 2001
Introduction
Education
for self-management is the best way to control diabetes, improve quality
of life and prevent complications.
The American
Diabetes Association’s new Nutrition Recommendations for People with
Diabetes Mellitus emphasizes carbohydrate counting as the preferred method
of good diabetes management. People
are less restricted in their diets when they can match the carbohydrates
in their food with the correct amount of insulin.
Carbohydrate is the food component that most affects blood glucose.
The blood glucose rise after eating is not as dependent on the form
of carbohydrate but the total amount of carbohydrate consumed.
Learning to count carbs can increase good control of blood glucose,
which results in a lower HbA1c and fewer complications.
The diabetes
educator or dietitian helps develop a plan of a consistent amount of
carbohydrate needed each day with goals that are appropriate for each
individual. Then, food
labels, a book that lists carbohydrate content of foods and a book that
lists nutrient content of restaurant foods, measuring spoons and cups, and
a food scale are the necessary tools to begin an accurate carbohydrate
counting program.
Trial Design
We
intend to use 15 diabetes educators to educate 2 patients each with Type 1
or Type 2 diabetes on how to count carbohydrates.
The Carb Cards will be supplied at no cost
An HbA1c will be taken at the beginning and at the conclusion of
the study (unless one is available that is less then 6 weeks old).
Fasting blood glucose and PostPrandial blood glucose will be
measured during the trial. A
minimum of 1 fasting blood glucose and 1 PostPrandial blood glucose will
be taken daily for at least 5 of 7 days.
At the end of each 30-day period, the readings will be added and
divided by the number of days and reported back as an average fasting and
PostPrandial blood glucose. At
the end of 90 days, we will obtain another HbA1c.
Carb Cards
can make carb counting less complicated.
Carb Cards is a set of 54 flashcards with food illustrations,
portion sizes and their carbohydrate values in grams.
The set uses 54 commonly eaten foods and six blanks cards to
customize.
The package
includes an activity card and crayons for kids or a 60-day food diary and
a pen for teens or adults.
At
mealtimes, laying the matching Carb Cards out next to the actual food
promotes quickly learning the grams of carbohydrate in that meal.
Planning a
menu using the cards and adding the carbohydrate amounts is simpler and
faster than using books and lists.
The visual
connection supports memorizing the carbohydrate amounts of the foods
typically eaten.
The blank
cards encourage using other resources and reading food labels to research
ethnic foods or combination dishes.
Other
activities include sorting Carb Cards into food groups, building a food
pyramid, playing restaurant and adapting them to favorite card games such
as Concentration and Go Fish.
By learning
portions sizes and carbohydrate amounts, greater flexibility in diet and
insulin schedules, and improved control and are achieved.
A short
questionnaire will be provided for you and your patient to fill out.
Limit of 2
patients per an educator.
Efficacy
Variables
1.
Hemoglobin A1c
2.
Fasting Blood Glucose
3.
PostPrandial Blood Glucose
Study
Procedures
One
week prior to start, the patient will monitor for at least 10 fasting and
10- 2hr PostPrandial readings and bring with to educator session.
The last
HbA1c can be used if within 6 weeks from starting study.
A daily
fasting and 2 hr PostPrandial blood glucose for a minimum of 5 each per a
week will be required by the patient during the length of the study, these
numbers will be reported to the educator monthly, who will get an average
fasting and 2hr PostPrandial reading.
At
the conclusion of the study in 90 days, another HbA1c will be taken and
all the readings will be collected for fasting and postPrandial readings
as above and reported back to diabetes in control.
Statistical
Analysis
The
HbA1c, fasting and PostPrandial glucose levels will be compared
to the beginning readings.
If
glucose and HbA1c levels are lower after the education on carb
counting, we will conclude that this education program may add incremental
benefit in diabetic patients.
For
information on Carb Cards and how
to purchase, go to www.rx4betterhealth.com
You
can register for 1 or 2 patients
Please
click on “I Agree” to register:
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