Issue 162 Item 14 Simple Meal Plan Effective For Diabetes Control

Choosing healthy, low-fat foods is just as effective for type 2 diabetes patients to control glucose levels as more complex meal plans that emphasize weight loss, Emory researchers said.

A simple meal plan encouraging diabetes patients to make good food choices by eating less sugary and fatty foods may be easier for health workers to teach to patients, especially those who have low literacy levels, according to a study in the June issue of Diabetes Care.

“The bottom line is that you can teach diet in a simpler manner and still get good results,” study author Dr. David Ziemer of the Emory University School of Medicine said in a statement.

More complex meal plans currently used require diabetes patients to compute and classify foods and to keep track of the classifications from food lists.

Under the simple plan, researchers modified the Food and Drug Administration’s Food Guide Pyramid to emphasize high-starch and high-protein foods recommended for those with diabetes. Patients were told to limit sweets and fats, especially saturated fats. Unlike the complex diabetes plans, portion sizes weren’t discussed and weight loss wasn’t emphasized.

The study was conducted with 648 patients at the Grady Health System Diabetes Clinic.

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